Perfil nutricional de pacientes submetidos à radioterapia nas regiões cabeça e pescoço e trato gastrointestinal em um hospital terciário

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells. Genetic, environmental, clinical, and lifestyle factors contribute to its development. Head and neck neoplasms and gastrointestinal tract neoplasms pose the highest nutritional risk due to their locations, especially when associated with radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), which can lead to complications affecting food intake and nutrient absorption, thereby impacting the health status and treatment success of the disease. In this context, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) plays a fundamental role in assessing the nutritional status of oncology patients. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional profile of patients undergoing radiotherapy for neoplasms in the head, neck, and gastrointestinal regions at a tertiary hospital in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using nutritional consultation data as well as secondary information from patient records and SGA results.A total of 59 volunteers participated in the study. As a result, it was found that the majority were male (76.3%) and over 60 years of age (57.6%), with a significant percentage of smokers (28.81%). SGA identified nutritional risk in 62.71% of the patients. The highest prevalence of severe malnutrition was in participants with cancer, head and neck with the number of malnourished patients significantly increasing by the end of the study (p=0.0001). Gastrointestinal complications were more common in severely malnourished patients, and 23.73% of participants discontinued treatment due to clinical complications. In conclusion, there is a clear need for nutritional monitoring during radiotherapy treatment to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes for patients. A detailed understanding of the nutritional profile can guide appropriate interventions, thereby contributing to a more effective cancer treatment.