Screening for Malnutrition Risk and Muscle Mass Depletion Among Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVES: Identify gastrointestinal cancer patients with severe muscle mass depletion and malnutrition risk. Discuss the importance of screening for malnutrition risk, the severity of muscle mass depletion and nutrition care plans for gastrointestinal cancer patients. Explain the health impacts of muscle mass depletion and malnutrition on cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred Jordanian (60 male and 40 female) gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients diagnosed either with gastric or colorectal cancer were screened for malnutrition risk using the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) and for muscle mass depletion using mid upper arm muscle area (MUAMA) and fat free mass index (FFMI). Statistical differences between study subjects by gender and type of gastrointestinal cancer were performed. RESULTS: 80% of the study subjects have high risk for malnutrition and 60% of them have severe muscle mass depletion. Gastric cancer patients have higher risk of malnutrition compared to colorectal (90.2% vs 72.9%) and for muscle mass depletion by FFMI and MUAMA (70.7% vs 61.0% and 65.8% vs 55.9%) respectively. A statically significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were found between male and female patients regarding muscle mass depletion by MUAMA and FFMI but not found between gastric and colorectal cancer patients. Although, Chi-square results showed only significant differences in MUAMA and FFMI of females diagnosed with gastric or colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Risks of malnutrition and severe muscle depletion are prevalent among GI cancer patients and nutrition care plans as well as behavioral life-style modifications are urgently needed. FUNDING SOURCES: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.