Dehydration Reduction in Head and Neck Cancer (DRIHNC) Trial: Daily Oral Fluid and Electrolyte Maintenance to Prevent Acute Care Clinic and Emergency Department Visits for Patients Receiving Radiation for Head and Neck and Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE: Patients with head and neck (H&N) and esophageal cancer are at high risk for treatment-related symptomatic dehydration, often leading to interventions and hospital admissions. We tested the hypothesis that preemptive daily oral hydration during curative-intent radiation therapy would decrease dehydration as measured by intravenous fluid (IVF) delivery, acute care clinic (ACC) visits, and emergency department (ED) presentations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with H&N or esophageal cancer undergoing definitive radiation therapy were enrolled in this prospective pilot study. Beyond standard nutritional counseling, patients were given one 20-oz bottle of an electrolyte-infused solution (EIS) daily throughout treatment. Compliance, presentations to the hospital ACC and/or ED for dehydration-related indications, and IVF infusions were documented and compared with a matched contemporary control cohort. The incidence and frequency of outcomes were compared with the Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were compared during a 6-month period. Mean and median compliance rates were 87.4% and 100%, respectively. There were 0 unplanned dehydration-related ED presentations in the study group versus 3 (9.7%) among controls (P = .08). Of patients in the intervention cohort, 32.3% required presentation to the ACC, versus 64.5% in the control cohort (P = .02), with a total of 26 versus 117 visits, respectively (P = .002). On multivariable analysis, receipt of the EIS in the intervention cohort was the only significantly associated factor (P = .02). Among patients in the intervention cohort, 35.5% required IVF during treatment, versus 64.5% among controls (P = .004). The difference in ACC visits (P = .003) and IVF received (P = .008) was especially notable among patients with esophageal cancer. Patients with ≥60% EIS compliance had slightly fewer ACC visits versus those with <60% compliance (P = .067). CONCLUSIONS: Regimented oral hydration during radiation for H&N and esophageal cancer was associated with a significant decrease in ACC visits and IVF delivery during definitive radiation therapy. This noninvasive and inexpensive preventative program in a high-risk cohort warrants further study.