Prevalence and Factors Associated with Malnutrition on Patients with Cancer in Bangladesh: a Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal BMJ Public Health

Publisher BMJ Publishing Group

Date 2025 Feb 28

PMID 40018103

Authors

Faroque Md Mohsin

Md Sorforajur Rahman

Md Shahjalal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition is related to the development of chronic diseases, including cancer and is a major cause of mortality in patients with cancer. The study aimed to understand the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among patients with cancer.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of malnutrition among patients with cancer and its relationship with sociodemographic status and treatments. Patients' nutritional diagnosis was performed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) tool. The performance status (PS) was obtained from the scale developed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Data were collected from two hospitals from January to March 2023. A χ test and multinominal regression analysis were performed by SPSS V.25.

Results: Out of 275 patients, 164 (60%) were male, with the mean age of 49.54 years (SD 15.61). Of these, 184 patients (67%) were malnourished of whom 149 patients (54%) had moderate and 35 patients (13%) had severe malnutrition. Patients' age, sex, PS, cancer site, treatment modalities, duration and hospitalisation were significantly associated with nutritional status (p<0.05). Patients between the ages of 40 and 60 were 2.96 times more likely to be malnourished compared with those younger than 40 (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) 2.96; 95% CI 1.40 to 6.24). Female patients had 7.74 times higher risk of malnutrition compared with male patients (AOR 7.74; 95% CI 2.03 to 19.80). Malnutrition was 2.6 times higher for surgical patients compared with nonsurgical ones (AOR 2.60; 95% CI 1.29 to 5.26). The risk of malnutrition was 4.06 times greater in patients treated longer than 12 months compared with those treated less than 6 months (AOR 4.06; 95% CI 1.82 to 9.08).

Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of malnutrition among patients with cancer, and it is essential to include regular nutritional assessment in the treatment process for better outcomes.

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