LB116 - IMPACT OF NUTRITION PROTOCOL ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN CANCER PATIENTS

LB116

IMPACT OF NUTRITION PROTOCOL ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN CANCER PATIENTS

S. Wongrukmit^1,*, P. Kamonphan¹, K. Soonklang², V. Trakulhoon¹

¹Nutrition Unit, Chulabhorn Hospital, ²Clinical Research Development, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand

Rationale: Because of the recognition of the negative effects of malnutrition in cancer patients, Chulabhorn Hospital has implemented a standardized nutrition protocol in which all inpatients are screened for malnutrition upon admission using the Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition of Thailand (SPENT) screening tool. Patients who screen positive are subsequently assessed using the Nutrition Triage 2013 (NT-2013) and given individualized nutritional therapy as needed. This study sought to assess changes in nutritional status in Thai oncology patients who followed the nutrition program.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among cancer patients admitted to Chulabhorn Hospital between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. Eligible patients had completed nutritional screening, assessment, and intervention at their baseline visit and had at least one follow-up visit within 40 days. Nutritional status was evaluated using body weight, BMI, % weight loss, SPENT screening score, and NT-2013 nutritional assessment. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients whose nutritional status remained stable or improved after intervention.

Results: A total of 253 patients (mean age 63.2 ± 12.4 years; 53% female) were included. The most common cancer types were head and neck (20.2%), colorectal (16.2%), and lung (14.2%). Most patients had stage IV disease (57.6%). After an average follow-up of 29.8 ± 19.2 days, 81% showed stable or improved nutrition screening scores, 77% improved or maintained nutrition assessment status, and 63% improved or maintained nutrition assessment score. However, mean body weight, BMI, and % weight loss decreased (mean weight change -1.43 kg, p < 0.001; BMI -0.55 kg/m², p < 0.001; %WL -1.64%, p = 0.001). Despite being statistically significant, the clinical consequence of less than 2% weight loss remains uncertain. Subgroup analysis based on length of follow-up period indicated better outcomes in patients with follow-up intervals >28 days.

Conclusion: In a real-world setting, systematic nutrition therapy was associated with improvements or stabilization in validated markers of nutritional status among the majority of cancer patients. These findings support the integration of a standardized nutrition protocol in routine cancer care.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared