The relationship between PG-SGA scores and nutritional status of patients receiving chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients are at risk of malnutrition even before diagnosis. Herein, we aimed to determine the nutritional education status of cancer patients; define the malnutrition rate with the PG-SGA evaluation method; determine the use of oral nutritional support; and to evaluate the relationship between these parameters. Materials/Methods: PG-SGA malnutrition assessment tool and questionnaire about nutrition education status and oral nutritional support were carried out among 281 cancer patients treated in the chemotherapy unit of a private health institution. Results: We found that 56.1% of the patients received their nutritional information from the doctors. There was not a significant relationship between nutritional education status and malnutrition. According to the PG-SGA evaluation, 37.7% of the patients were moderately malnourished and 6.8% were severely malnourished. However, it is seen that 72.5% of malnourished patients do not receive oral nutritional support. The PG-SGA results revealed that albumin was significantly lower in patients with severe malnutrition compared to other groups. It was found that malnutrition was overlooked in 82% of patients when evaluated with BMI alone. Conclusion: PG-SGA is a tool that should be used routinely among chemotherapy patients. The validity of the PG-SGA short form should be conducted as it may provide ease of application and widespread use.