Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients

ABSTRACT The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life in lung cancer patients. A total of 140 patients were assessed. Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS- 2002) tool was used to determine nutritional status and quality of life was assessed using The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORT QLQ-C30). The rate of malnutrition risk was forty percent of all patients, 38.8 percent of the males and 47.4 percent of the females. (p>0.05). The risk of malnutrition was higher among in-patients (52.1%) compared to outpatients (26.9%). In patients at risk of malnutrition, the subscale scores of EORT QLQ-C30 form for role function were lower while fatigue, pain, dyspnea, insomnia and anorexia scores were higher than the patients who are not at risk of malnutrition (p<0.05). As the patients’ total NRS- 2002 scores increases, their physical and role function scores decrease; and their fatigue, pain, dyspnea, insomnia and anorexia symptoms increase (p<0.05). Nutritional status of these patients should be assessed from the date of diagnosis of disease, these patients should receive nutrition counselling from a dietitian specialized in oncology areas and should be informed on the importance of nutritional status related to its preventive role on quality of life.