Evaluation of nutritional risk factors in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-eligible patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional risk factors in patients eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with patients recruited from an hematology outpatient clinic. Study variables included demographic and clinical data, patient-generated global subjective assessment findings, anthropometric indicators, food intake and oxidative stress levels. The level of significance was set at 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: The sample comprised 72 patients, mean age of 48.93 years (14.5%). Multiple myeloma was the most prevalent condition (51.4%) in this sample. Most patients (55.6%) were overweight according to body mass index and at risk of cardiovascular disease according to waist circumference, conicity index and percentage of body fat. Sarcopenia was associated with risk of cardiovascular disease, hip-to-waist ratio (p=0.021), muscle strength depletion (p<0.001), food intake (p=0.023), reduced functional capacity (p=0.048), self-reported well-nourished status; p=0.044) and inadequate vitamin B6 (p=0.022) and manganese (p=0.026) intake. Elevated oxidative stress, detected in 33.3% of patients in this sample, was not associated with sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: Most patients in this sample were overweight and sarcopenic. Lean mass depletion was associated with risk of cardiovascular disease, reduced muscle strength, food intake changes, reduced functional capacity, self-reported well-nourished status and inadequate intake of vitamin B6 and manganese, but not with oxidative stress.