A cross-section investigation of malnutrition in elderly cancer inpatients

Objective To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly cancer inpatients based on global leadership initiative on malnutrition(GLIM)diagnostic criteria. Methods Clinical data of 1 472 inpatients with cancer aged 65 years and over from a multicenter study in 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Nutritional assessment was performed based on GLIM diagnostic criteria and the prevalence of malnutrition in a different stratifieddiagnosis was recorded. Results Of 1472 consecutive patients, 924 cases(62.8%)were diagnosed as nutritional risk.The malnutrition rate was 51.8%(762 cases)based on GLIM diagnostic criteria, with 29.6%(436 cases)of moderate malnutrition and 22.3%(326 cases)of severe malnutrition.The prevalences of nutritional risk, total malnutrition and severe malnutrition were increased along with aging(P=0.000). There were 906 cases not receiving surgery treatment.Among the 906 cases, the prevalence of nutritional risk and malnutrition were 61.9%(561/906 cases)and 53.3%(483 /906 cases), the moderate malnutrition rate was 53.3%(483/906 cases)and the severe malnutrition rate was 22.1%(200/906 cases)respectively.There were 566 cases undergoing surgery treatment.And among 566 cases, the prevalence of nutritional risk and malnutrition were 64.1%(236 cases)and 49.5%(280 cases), the moderate malnutrition rate was 26.9%(152 cases)and the severe malnutrition rate was 22.6%(128 cases). The prevalence of nutritional risk was high in patients with gastrointestinal cancer who underwent surgery, and the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with gastrointestinal cancer or lung cancer was higher in the non-surgical group than in the surgical group. Conclusions The prevalence of malnutrition is high in elderly cancer inpatients, which is increased along with aging.GLIM diagnostic criteria has clinical operability, and its availability needs more studies in the future. Key words: Neoplasms; Malnutrition