P037 - THE ROLE OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN REDUCING TREATMENT INTERRUPTIONS IN RADIOTHERAPY

P037

THE ROLE OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN REDUCING TREATMENT INTERRUPTIONS IN RADIOTHERAPY

S. Harbaj¹, B. AGDI², R. CHAKIR², I. LAHLALI², K. NOUNI², A. LACHGAR², H. EL KACEMI², T. KEBDANI^2,*, K. HASSOUNI²

¹Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, ²Radiotherapy, National Institut of Oncology , Rabat, Morocco

Rationale: Treatment interruptions in radiotherapy can compromise continuity of care and impact clinical outcomes. Among the contributing factors, undernutrition and diet-related side-effects feature prominently. Appropriate nutritional support can improve patients' general condition and limit interruptions to the treatment protocol.

Methods: This is a retrospective study including 100 patients undergoing radiotherapy in the radiotherapy department of the Rabat National Institute of Oncology. Data were collected on the number of treatment interruptions, the causes of these interruptions, and nutritional parameters (weight loss, BMI, albumin, etc.). Analysis of the files will enable us to identify any correlations between patient's nutritional status and the occurrence of treatment interruptions.

Results: Of the 140 patients treated with radiotherapy, 58.6% were female and 41.4% male, with an average age of 57. The tumor localizations selected were ENT cancer (47.85%), cervical cancer (30.71%), prostate cancer (21.43%).

Treatment interruption was noted in 36.42% of patients. 44% of these interruptions were due to digestive disorders (diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting), while 26% were due to an alteration in general condition, often linked to a weakened nutritional state.

Nutritional data show that 38.57% of patients had significant weight loss (≥ 5%) before starting treatment, 22.14% had a BMI below 18.5 and 18% suffered from hypoalbuminemia.

Of the 36.42% of patients who interrupted their treatment, 19% already had an altered nutritional status on admission.

Conclusion: These results show that undernutrition is an important factor in radiotherapy treatment interruptions. Appropriate nutritional monitoring would help prevent complications and promote better continuity of care. Integrating nutritional management from the very start of treatment would therefore appear to be a way of improving patient care.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared