Assessment of nutritional status and quality of life in patients with pancreatic head cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status and quality of life (QOL) in patients with unresectable pancreatic head cancer. This is a retrospective assessment that included different parameters namely: current weight, weight loss, body mass index (BMI), bilirubin level (BT), serum albumin (ALB) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Protein-calorie malnutrition was defined by the nutritional risk index (NRI) and quality of life by the general quality of life in digestive disease score (GIQL). The study included 50 patients (60% men, 40% women) with a mean age of 61.8±13.5 years. 32 patients had locally advanced tumors and 16 had metastatic tumors. All patients had significant weight loss [median 24.9% (2%-37%) of stable pre-disease weight], BMI was less than 18.5 kg/m2 in 66% (18.28 ±3.6 kg/m2). Bilirubin was greater than 200mg/l in 44%, ALB less than 35 g/l in 92% and CRP greater than 6 mg/l in 84% of patients. Severe undernutrition was present in 73% of patients and moderate undernutrition in 27%. The GIQL score was satisfactory in 73% of the patients. These results show that this cancer has a serious impact on nutritional status, hence the need to manage these patients in order to mitigate nutritional exhaustion and improve their quality of life.