Relationship between malnutrition and the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in hospitalized cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are a common issue in patients with cancer, yet understudied among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in cancer inpatients and its relationship with malnutrition. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in hospitalized cancer patients. A nutritional assessment was done using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria to diagnose malnutrition. Data regarding anxiety and depression symptomatology was obtained with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: A total of 282 inpatients were assessed. GLIM criteria found 20% (66) of well-nourished and 80% (216) with malnutrition. HADS presented an average score of 8.3 ± 4.4 with respect to anxiety and an average score of 7.7 ± 4.6 with respect to depression. Up to 54% of the patients showed a possible presence of anxiety, and 45.3% of them showed a possible presence of depression. In malnourished patients, HADS score was non-significantly higher with respect to anxiety (8.5 ± 4.3 in malnourished vs 7.1 ± 4.6 in well-nourished; p = 0.06) and was significantly higher with respect to depression (8.2 ± 4.6 in malnourished vs 5.3 ± 4.0 in well-nourished; p < 0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, malnourished patients were 1.98 times more likely to present anxious symptomatology (95% CI 1.01–3.98; p = 0.049) and 6.29 times more likely to present depressive symptomatology (95% CI 1.73–20.47; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in oncological inpatients is high. There is an association between malnutrition and presenting anxious and depressive symptomatology in hospitalized cancer patients.