Abstract
Background and Objective: The nutritional status of oncological patients has become a subject of growing scientific interest because of its prognostic significance and the resulting therapeutic possibilities. Colorectal cancer ranks the third highest in cancer incidence and fourth in cancer mortality in both sexes combined worldwide. The role of dietary and other lifestyle factors in colorectal cancer recurrence and survival is largely unknown. The present study aimed to determine the extent of malnutrition in pre and post operative or other treatments of colorectal cancer patients. Methods: A cross- sectional descriptive study was carried out among (30) Patients, (17) males (56.7%) while the other (13) females (43.3%) at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) with diagnosed colorectal cancer to be included in the study at their first visit to the outpatient Surgery and Oncology department between October 2011 and April 2012 were included in a retrospective review of the patients' medical record. Patients were enrolled consecutively from outpatients 2-4 weeks prior to surgery for study. Demographics characteristics including performance status (PS), assessments included weight history, body mass index (BMI), and percentage of weight loss. Laboratory investigations includes blood analysis, U&E (urine and electrolyte) and albumin, also the CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) as a diagnostic tool Cancer staging and hospital length of stay were recorded, nutritional status and assigning the level of risk for malnutrition by, using Simple Screening tool for Malnutrition (SSM), were collected and correlated with different modulates of treatment. Results: Majority of patients (83.33%) have the tumor in the colon while only (16.66%) in the rectum. About (43.33%) treated with both Surgery and chemotherapy while (26.66%) surgery only, (13.33%) received only chemotherapy;(13.33%) received a combination of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, and only (3.33%) treated with both Surgery and Radiotherapy. Malnutrition was defined by full nutritional assessment in the participating patients using SSM which revealed that 21 of the 30 patients (70%) were malnourished before treatment and 20 patients (66.6%) after treatment. SSM had high sensitivity and specificity indeticting in patients with colorectal cancer. Declining nutritional status of the patients as seen in serum albumin before and after treatment for all participants which was below reference value of (30.75 +/- 0.14 and 29.95 +/- 1.93) respectively. The Mean +/- SD weight loss (unintentional weight loss) was in male patients (13.61 +/- 1.83kg) less than females (15.05 +/- 1.75kg). The duration for a unintential weight loss was (50% of participate) had through 3 months; (16. 7 %) after 6 months and (16.7%) had change during one year. Conclusion: Colorectal cancer Patients does have a real nutritional problem that surely can influence their disease course and length of hospital stay after surgery and long duration of receiving other treatment. Most patients with malignancies are considered to be at risk for malnutrition, and therefore require further nutritional support. Nutritional screening would be beneficial in this group preoperatively to identify weight-losing patients at an early stage in the care pathway when they initially enter the secondary care system. Screening (SSM) for malnutrition in cancer patients is a valid simple approach to define cancer patients for nutritional care.
More patients regard themselves in need for nutritional counseling than the number of patients really achieving any. [Thanaa. A. El-kholy; Hatim Ali Al Abbadi; A.K. Alghamidi; Hesah Al- Qahtani; Morooj Al- Abya and Noha Mujalli. The Nutritional Status in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Pre and Post Different Modulates Of Treatment. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):2219-2230] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 330