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ObjectiveTo explore the relationships between swallowing functional outcomes and nutritional status in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy (RT).MethodsThis longitudinal study included 122 patients. Data were collected at three time points: baseline (T1), the third week of RT (T2) and the completion of RT (T3). The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events was used to assess the symptom of dysphagia and other toxicities; the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) was used to assess the patient-perceived swallowing functional outcomes; the nutritional status was evaluated by the weight ratio and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). The generalised estimating equation (GEE) was used to measure the correlation of MDADI with the weight ratio or PG-SGA and also to analyse the influential factors of swallowing functional outcomes.ResultsThe participants’ acute dysphagia rates were 5.7% at T1, 69.7% at T2 and 77.9% at T3. The swallowing functional outcomes worsen over RT (p<0.001) and were associated with weight ratio (β=0.032, p=0.008) and PG-SGA (β=−0.115, p<0.001). GEE models showed that patients with cancer of the pharynx region, advanced stage, chemoradiotherapy and high RT dose perceived worse swallowing functional outcomes. Oral mucositis, pharynx mucositis and salivary gland inflammation were positively correlated with swallowing functional outcomes, and the pharynx mucositis presented the highest absolute value of β.ConclusionThe swallowing functional outcomes were negatively correlated with nutritional status. Healthcare professionals should identify early on the population at higher risk and focus on multiple toxicities, especially the management of pharynx mucositis, to improve nutritional status.

BackgroundBody composition may influence the prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. To find out the most crucial factors in this relationship, we explored the association between body composition and survival.MethodsIn this prospective longitudinal study, HNC patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT) from March 2017 to December 2018 were recruited. The association between body composition and survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression.ResultsFinal analysis included 316 patients, with a median follow‐up of 34.4 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that weight loss 6 months before RT and body composition changes during RT did not affect the survival outcome. However, patients with low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) before RT exhibited poor overall survival (OS). ASMI before RT was an independent prognostic factor for OS.ConclusionsBody composition loss was common during RT, and ASMI before RT independently influenced the survival outcomes of HNC patients.

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Background Evidence supporting predictive effects of pretreatment nutritional risk and nutritional status on nutrition impact symptom (NIS) clusters during radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is insufficient. Methods At baseline (T1), we collected severity and interference of NIS (Head and Neck Patient Symptom Checklist), nutritional risk, and nutritional status. During (T2) and at the end of radiotherapy (T3), we re‐evaluated NIS. Symptom clusters were identified by exploratory factor analysis using mean scores of NIS severity at T2 and T3. Predictive effects were explored by generalized estimating equations. Results Five hundred thirty‐seven patients were recruited and 334 of them completed. Four clusters were identified; the oropharyngeal symptom cluster was the most severe and had the greatest interference with diet. Patients with pretreatment nutritional risk or malnutrition experienced more severe oropharyngeal symptom cluster. Conclusions Pretreatment nutritional risk or malnutrition could predict the oropharyngeal symptom cluster in patients with HNC undergoing radiotherapy.