PT26 - DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTIONS FOR SARCOPENIA MANAGEMENT IN CANCER PATIENTS: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE

PT26

DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTIONS FOR SARCOPENIA MANAGEMENT IN CANCER PATIENTS: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹HMC, Doha, Qatar

Rationale: Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, is a common complication in cancer patients that can negatively impact treatment outcomes and quality of life.

This quality improvement project aimed to assess the effectiveness of dietitian-led interventions in managing sarcopenia among cancer patients and to establish best practices for nutritional care.

Methods: A six-month prospective study was conducted on 100 cancer patients at various stages of treatment. Patients underwent initial screening for sarcopenia using the SARC-F questionnaire and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietitians implemented tailored nutritional interventions, including high-protein diets (1.2-1.5 g/kg/day), oral nutritional supplements, and counseling on physical activity. Muscle mass, strength, and physical performance were assessed at baseline and after three and six months. Patient-reported outcomes were collected using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

Results: After six months, 72% of patients showed improvements in muscle mass and strength. Adherence to dietitian-prescribed nutritional plans was associated with a 40% reduction in sarcopenia progression compared to standard care. Patients receiving dietitian-led interventions reported significant improvements in fatigue levels and overall quality of life. The integration of nutritional care with exercise recommendations led to synergistic benefits, with a 25% increase in physical performance scores.

Conclusion: This project highlighted the significant benefits of dietitian-led interventions in managing sarcopenia among cancer patients. By implementing targeted nutritional strategies and physical activity guidance, the project improved muscle health and quality of life, supporting the integration of specialized dietetic services as a standard of care in oncology settings to enhance patient outcomes.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared