Häufigkeit eines Risikos für Mangelernährung bei Patienten in onkologischen Schwerpunktpraxen - eine Querschnittserhebung

Background The nutritional status of patients with tumor diseases in German out-patient clinics is largely unknown. This cross-sectional survey on patients with tumor diseases aimed to assess the prevalence of the risk of malnutrition in this group. Methods In out-patient clinics of oncologists, patients with a diagnosed cancer disease were consecutively interrogated between June 2017 and May 2018 using a standardized questionnaire. In addition to questions on the health status and dietary habits, the validated screening questionnaires Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Nutrition Risk Screening Tool-2002 (NRS-2002) were used to assess the risk of malnutrition of these patients (primary endpoint). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results In total, data from 765 patients with a diagnosed tumor (60.9% female) were analyzed. The participants had a mean age of 63.1±13.1 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.2±5.1kg/m². Using the MUST questionnaire 15.4% of participants had a moderately increased risk and 19.5% a high risk of malnutrition. Of those, patients with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract showed the highest rate of malnutrition risk (46.6%). The criteria for a nutrition risk based on the NRS-2002 questionnaire (score ≥3) were fulfilled by 29.1% of the patients. Less than one third of the patients reported to have received dietary counselling after cancer diagnosis (29.9%). Conclusion Every third patient with a diagnosed tumor disease in out-patient care exhibits an increased risk of malnutrition. The results of this survey clearly indicate the need for a systematic screening for malnutrition and an evidence-based nutrition management of tumor patients under ambulatory care.