PD769 - GUSTATORY AND SALIVARY DYSFUNCTION AS DETERMINANTS OF NUTRITIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

PD769

GUSTATORY AND SALIVARY DYSFUNCTION AS DETERMINANTS OF NUTRITIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

S. Taimi^1,*, I. EL MOUMNI¹, O. ALAOUI HICHAMI ¹, Y. RAKII¹, K. NOUNI¹, L. AMINE¹, H. ELKACEMI¹, T. KEBDANI¹, K. HASSOUNI¹

¹radiotherapy, INO, rabat, Morocco

Rationale: Taste and salivary alterations are common complications in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), Especially due to multimodal treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These sensory impairments can have significant affections, such as reduced appetite, altered eating behaviors, and compromised nutritional intake. Consequently, they may contribute to or exacerbate malnutrition, which is already prevalent in this population. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and topographical evolution of gustatory and salivary changes and to assess their impact on nutrition.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted involving 44 patients with histologically confirmed HNC. Patients underwent repeated evaluations before, during, and up to one year after treatment. Assessments included suprathreshold taste recognition, patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Nutritional impact was evaluated through changes in appetite, food intake, and weight loss over time.

Results: Taste alterations, both subjective and objective, were present in some patients prior to treatment, worsened significantly during therapy, and only partially improved during follow-up. These impairments persisted in a subset of patients for one year. Patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy exhibited more severe taste disturbances (p = 0.036).These alterations were strongly associated with decreased appetite, reduced dietary intake, and subsequent weight loss, highlighting their negative impact on nutritional status.

Conclusion: Taste and salivary alterations are frequent, persistent, and clinically significant in HNC patients, with a direct impact on nutritional intake and risk of malnutrition. Early identification and targeted nutritional and supportive interventions are essential to mitigate these effects and improve patient outcomes.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared