PD771 - EARLY NUTRITIONAL RISK IS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED FUNCTIONAL STATUS DURING CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

PD771

EARLY NUTRITIONAL RISK IS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED FUNCTIONAL STATUS DURING CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

M. B. N. Carlini^1,*, T. B. Santos¹, L. C. B. S. Neto¹, L. B. de Azevedo¹, W. R. Grippa¹, O. E. Martinez¹, L. C. L. Junior^1,2

¹Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil, ²Department of Pediatric Oncology, Pan American Health Organization – World Health Organization (PAHO-WHO), Washington, United States

Rationale: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with esophageal cancer and may impairtreatment tolerance and functional status. However, prospective evidence evaluating during chemotherapy remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association between nutritional risk and longitudinal changes in anthropometric and functional parameters during chemotherapy.

Methods: Prospective cohort study included patients with esophageal cancer undergoing chemotherapy at a tertiary oncology center in Brazil. Nutritional status was assessed at  the first and third chemotherapy cycles using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Anthropometric measures included body weight, body mass index (BMI), and arm and calf circumferences. Functional status was evaluated using handgrip strength. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric tests and Fisher’s exact test (p<0.05).

Results: Twenty-nine patients were included, of whom 69% were classified at nutritional risk. At-risk patients had significantly lower weight (p≤0.001), BMI (p=0.008), anthropometric measures (p=0.001) and handgrip strength (p=0.048). Nutritional risk was also associated with more advanced disease stage and poorer physical condition (p<0.05). Longitudinal analysis showed significant declines in weight,in weight, BMI and muscle-related parameters among at-risk patients.

Conclusion: Nutritional risk was highly prevalent and associated with early deterioration in anthropometricand functional parameters during chemotherapy. These findings highlight the importance of systematic nutritional screening and early nutritional intervations  to preserve muscle function and clinical outcomes in  esophageal cancer.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared