Nutritional profile and symptoms of patients with oncohematological disease: comparing adults and elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Chemotherapy is one of the treatments for onco-hematological diseases. As it is a systemic treatment, the patient may have undesired effects, and consequently, have nutritional deficits. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional profile and associated symptoms, in patients diagnosed with onco-hematological disease, undergoing outpatient chemotherapy, comparing adult patients with the elderly. Methodology: Cross-sectional observational study, carried out in an oncology outpatient clinic in Caxias do Sul / RS. The nutritional profile was assessed by the Subjective Global Assessment Produced by the Patient Himself (ASG-PPP). The study consisted of 65 patients, of these 28 adults and 37 elderly. The variables were described by mean and standard deviation or gross and relative frequency. The Chi-square test was performed, and a significance level of 5% was considered. Results: The most prevalent cancer diagnosis was Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Among adults, 39.3% were overweight according to the Body Mass Index (BMI), 96.4% were classified as well nourished according to the ASG-PPP, however 42.9% had weight loss of up to 5% in 6 months. Among the elderly, 48.6% were eutrophic according to the BMI, 73% were classified as well nourished according to the ASG-PPP, however, 40.5% had weight loss of up to 5% in 6 months. The most prevalent symptoms in both groups were dry mouth, nausea and constipation. Conclusion: Although the majority of the sample was classified as well nourished, weight loss was present to a considerable extent, indicating the need for an effective nutritional diagnosis and early identification of the risk of malnutrition.