Abstract

Author(s): Da Silva Lima, Karla; Lima da Luz, Marcella Campos; Oliveira de Araújo, Aline; Da Silva Lima, Kaline; Pessoa de Araújo Burgos, Maria Goretti; Grande de Arruda, Ilma Kruze; Maio, Regiane

Introduction: Cachexia is synonymous of a specific type of malnutrition called “Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) with inflammation”, it is an inflammation is a catabolic condition characterized by inflammatory response including anorexia and tissue catabolism, caused by the underlying disease.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of cachexia and precachexia and associated factors in patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.

Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study, with convenience sample, in patients ≥18 years old, of both gender; diagnosed with gastrointestinal tract neoplasia. For the cachexia evaluation, it was used a criterion comprised of four categories based on combinations of body weight loss.(<10% = precachexia, ≥10% = cachexia) and the presence or absence of at least one of these symptoms (anorexia/ fatigue/satiety). It was applied the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) in order to evaluate the appetite and the fatigue was evaluated by the Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS). Nutritional variables included the anthropometric indicators: tricipital skin fold, arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, arm muscle area and thumb adductor muscle; and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Laboratory variables were hemoglobin, Total Lymphocyte Counts, Albumin and serum C-reactive protein.

Results: Cachexia and pre-cachexia occurred in 56.3% and 23.8% of patients, respectively. Most of the anthropometric indicators and PG-SGA were significantly associated with cachexia. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were not associated with cachexia.

Conclusions: The occurrence of cachexia and precachexia was elevated in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, only nutritional indicators were associated with cachexia.