Malnutrition and mortality risk among older adult patients with cancer in Peru
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/horizmed.2025.v25n3.04Keywords:
Malnutrition , Cancer , Mortality , Aged , NeoplasmsAbstract
Objective: Malnutrition is common among cancer patients and even more prevalent in older
adults. Although its association with mortality risk is well established, further studies in Latin
America are needed to delve deeper into this relationship. This study aimed to evaluate the
association between malnutrition and mortality risk among Peruvian older adult patients (≥ 60 years)
with cancer. Materials and methods: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) records of older
adult patients with cancer evaluated at the Geriatrics Department of Hospital Almenara in Lima,
Peru, from 2018 to January 2024, were reviewed. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini
Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), which classifies patients into three groups: normal,
at risk of malnutrition, or malnourished. This retrospective observational study comprised both
cases (patients at risk of malnutrition or malnourished) and controls. Results: The study included 171 patients (mean age of 77.8 ± 7.5 years), 60 % of whom were men. According to the MNA-SF,
66 patients (38.5 %) were classified as having normal nutritional status, 77 (45.0 %) as at risk of malnutrition, and 28 (16.4 %) as malnourished. The frequency of malnutrition was higher among males (60.7 %) than females (39.3 %) (p < 0.05). The mean follow-up period was 41.1 ± 20.9 months, ranging from 0.9 to 68 months. The most common cancer
types were colorectal (23.4 %), prostate (13.5 %), stomach (11.7 %), skin (11.7 %), breast (9.4 %), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5.4 %), head and neck (4.7 %), lung (3.5 %), endometrial (3.5 %), and pancreatic (2.9 %). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis,
patients who were at risk of malnutrition or malnourished had a higher mortality risk compared to those with normal nutritional status (hazard ratio [HR], 2.9; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.37–7.26; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Peruvian older adult patients
with cancer at risk of malnutrition or malnourished have a higher mortality risk compared with their counterparts with normal nutritional status.
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