Risco nutricional em pacientes com câncer do trato gastrointestinal: métodos diagnósticos

Introduction: Cancer is a problem of major public health impact, especially in developing countries. Objective: To evaluate the risk of malnutrition in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer and the effectiveness of diagnostic methods compared to the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including 148 patients admitted to the hospital Sao Jose, Criciuma, Santa Catarina. Patients were evaluated by the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment. Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference and arm muscle area. Results: According to Subjective Global Assessment, 47.3% were in risk of malnutrition and 20.9% in severe malnutrition. Body mass index was significantly higher in patients classified as well-nourished; arm muscle area was lower in patients classified as malnourished; arm circumference showed discriminatory capacity for well-nourished patients; there was no difference in the averages of the triceps skinfold thickness according to Subjective Global Assessment classification; the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire showed lower scores in malnourished male patients, compared to patients at risk of malnutrition as well as to well nourished. Conclusion: With the exception of the triceps skinfold thickness, there is discriminatory capacity for well-nourished and malnourished classifications, and between well-nourished and nutritional risk in all other methods (arm circumference and area, body mass index and the appetite questionnaire). Among the three classifications (well nourished, at nutritional risk and malnourished), there is discriminatory capacity for the body mass index, arm circumference and the nutritional appetite questionnaire.