P304 - IMPACT OF MALNUTRITION ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALLY ADVANCED RECTAL CANCER: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 65 PATIENTS

P304

IMPACT OF MALNUTRITION ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALLY ADVANCED RECTAL CANCER: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 65 PATIENTS

C. Ezzouitina^1,², F. Z. CHRAA^1,², R. Laraichi^1,², A. Lachgar¹, K. Nouni¹, H. El Kacemi¹, T. Kebdani^1,*, K. Hassouni¹

¹Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, ²Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

Rationale: Malnutrition is common in patients with advanced rectal cancer and represents a major factor of morbidity and mortality.

Its impact on quality of life (QoL) remains insufficiently explored.

This study aimed to assess the association between nutritional status and QoL in this patient population.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in the radiotherapy department at the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat. It included 65 patients diagnosed with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, between January and December 2024.
Nutritional status was assessed using biological markers (serum albumin), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and Body Mass Index (BMI). Quality of life was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

Results: Of the 65 patients, the mean age was 45 years (SD ±10.6; range: 37–79 years), with 42 males (64.61%) and 23 females (35.38%).

All patients received external beam radiotherapy (50 Gy) concomitantly with capecitabine at a dose of 825 mg/m² twice daily on radiotherapy days.
According to the SGA, 49.23% of patients (n = 32) were malnourished, with BMI ranging between 16 and 18 and abnormal biological markers.
Well-nourished patients showed significantly higher QoL scores in the global, physical, and role functioning domains.

The median role function score was 41.6 points higher in well-nourished patients, indicating a substantial improvement from the patient’s perspective. Symptom scale scores (fatigue, appetite loss) were also more favorable in the well-nourished group.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is significantly associated with impaired quality of life in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

These findings highlight the importance of early and tailored nutritional support to improve patient outcomes and overall well-being.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared