Beneficial Effect of Integrated Nutritional Interventions in Patients with Hematological Diseases Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional status of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is critically important. This study was aimed to assess the impact of comprehensive nutritional interventions on the well-being of individuals with hematological diseases who underwent HSCT. Methods: A total of 175 patients with hematological diseases who underwent HSCT were included, with 94 in the control group and 81 in the research group. Patients in the control group received standard nursing care, while those in the research group underwent integrated nutritional interventions. Nutritional status was evaluated using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and subjective global assessment (SGA), along with body measurements and serum levels of albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin. Results: There were no significant differences in the proportion of malnourished patients evaluated by MNA or SGA between the control and research groups at admission. However, at discharge and 3 months post-discharge, fewer patients in the research group were malnourished compared to the control group, as assessed by both MNA and SGA. At admission, there were no significant differences in albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin levels, weight, calf circumference (CC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), or subscapular skinfold thickness (SSF) between groups. However, at discharge and 3 months post-discharge, the levels of these indicators significantly decreased compared to those upon admission. Levels of albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin, as well as weight, CC, TSF, and SSF, were significantly higher in the research group than in the control group at both discharge and 3 months post-discharge. Conclusion: HSCT led to a decline in nutritional status among patients with hematological diseases, but integrated nutritional interventions effectively improved their nutritional status.