Malnutrition is Associated With Fatigue and Anxiety in Advanced Cancer Patients Admitted to Home Palliative Care

Abstract

Objective: Information regarding the nutrition profile of advanced cancer patients followed at home is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients who were admitted to specialized home palliative care, and examine eventual factors associated with malnutrition. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting/subject: patients who were admitted to 2 specialized home palliative care programs. Participants: A consecutive sample of patients admitted to home care was selected. Depression, anxiety, nausea, poor appetite, and poor well-being were measured by numerical scale 0-10. Mini nutritional assessment form (MNA-SF), fatigue assessment scale (FAS), and sarcopenia by SARC-F. were performed. The use of drugs used for anorexia, including corticosteroids, progestins, or others, was recorded. Results: Data of 135 patients were analyzed. Sixty-eight per cent and 77% of patients resulted to be malnourished and sarcopenic. In the multivariate regression analysis, anxiety (P = 0.036) and total FAS (P = 0.013) were independently associated with malnutrition. Fifty-five per cent of patients were receiving corticosteroids or megestol acetate. No significant associations with parameters examined were found. Conclusion: The majority of advanced cancer patients admitted to home palliative care were malnourished independently of the primary tumor diagnosis. Indeed, fatigue and anxiety were independently associated with malnutrition.