NURITIONAL STATUS OF CANCER PATIENTS ATTENDING CLINICS IN NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE. SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Ogbu I.S.I*, Ugwu M.C., Ukibe N.R., Mbachu N.A, Ogbu C.C., Nwobodo E.I and Ibe C.O.C

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition leads to immune impairment and worsens the effect of cancer. This study assessed nutritional status of cancer patients in a tertiary Hospital clinics in Anambra State Nigeria. Fifty (50) cancer patients (25 drug naïve and 25 on drug treatment) and 25 apparently healthy controls were recruited for the study. Clinical status of the patients was obtained from Hospital records. A questionnaire and subjective global nutritional assessment (SGNA) form were used to obtain anthropometric and nutritional status of the subjects. Serum proteins, and haemoglobin were assayed spectrophotometrically while elements were assayed using AAS. CD4+ count of the patients was done by flow cytometer. The results showed body mass index, BMI (19.78±1.67kg/m2), MUAC, (1.70m2 ±0.21 m), albumin (1.86±0.13g/dl), Hb (10.52±1.62g/dl), iron (0.65±0.0.10ppm), zinc (0.69±0.14ppm) and selenium (0.54±0.08ppm) of drug naïve patients were significantly lower than those of on-treatment group; BMI-(22.05±1.61kg/m2), MUAC, (1.93m2 ±0.15 m),albumin (2.50±0.36g/dl), Hb (12.01±1.02g/dl), serum iron (0.91±0.16ppm), zinc (1.08±0.13ppm), and selenium (0.63±0.08ppm) and control group; BMI –(24.77±2.59kg/m2), MUAC, (2.54m2 ±0.60 m), albumin – (3.44±0.36g/dl), Hb – (13.80±1.23g/dl), iron – (1.18±0.14ppm), zinc – (1.18±0.15ppm), selenium – (1.06±0.14ppm), (p = 0.00). These parameters of the on-treatment group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (p = 0.00). However, total protein (9.14±1.42g/dl), and copper (1.32±0.19ppm) of the drug naïve patients were not significantly higher than on-treatment (8.72±1.66g/dl, 1.21±0.16ppm), (p > 0.05) but differed significantly with the control groups (7.05±0.84g/dl, 0.77±0.09ppm), (p = 0.00). Those of the on-treatment group were also higher than the control (p – 0.00).Subjective Global Assessment index showed that 53% and 60% respectively of the drug naïve and on-treatment cancer patients were undernourished. Cancer patients studied were undernourished and this can hinder effective management. Adequate nutrition deserves even greater attention in the management of cancer patient especially in economically poor setting.

Keywords: “Nutrition”, “nutritional status”, “malnutrition”, “Cancers”, “trace elements”.