Mapping Health-Related Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosed with Malnutrition Defined by GLIM

Abstract

Patients with cancer deal with problems related to physical, psychological, social, and emotional functions. The aim was to investigate malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in relation to health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with head and neck cancer. This was a prospective observational research study with 273 patients followed at the start of treatment, seven weeks, and one year. Data collection included nutritional status and support, and the questionnaires: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and neck cancer module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Malnutrition was defined using the GLIM criteria. The study showed that patients with malnutrition had significantly greater deterioration in their health-related quality of life at seven weeks. On a group level, health-related quality of life was most severe at this time point and some scores still implied problems at one year. Significantly, more patients reported anxiety at the start of treatment whereas significantly more patients reported depression at seven weeks. Over the trajectory of care, the need for support often varies. Psychosocial support is imperative and at the end of treatment extra focus should be put on nutritional interventions and managing treatment-related symptoms to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life. In the long-term, head and neck cancer survivors need help to find strategies to cope with the remaining sequel.

Internet-based support for informal caregivers to individuals with head and neck cancer (Carer eSupport): a study protocol for the development and feasibility testing of a complex online intervention

“…Carer eSupport will be adapted to ICs who need to be prepared for caregiving at home due to the advanced treatment given to the individuals they provide care to. 11 12 Engaging stakeholders, for example, end users, in the development phase 6 7 is therefore necessary to meet the ICs’ needs. These stakeholders must have experience of caring for individuals with HNC at home, so they can find solutions that may make a difference for the ICs and identify and fill the gaps in relation to their needs.…”

“…Over 800 000 people worldwide were diagnosed with HNC in 2018. 10 Many individuals with HNC experience symptom burden due to both the cancer and the treatments they receive, for example, eating problems, pain, difficulty swallowing and speech problems 11 12 and physical and/or psychological distress. 13 This affects not only the patients, but also their ICs.…”

Obesity and Its Relationship With Cancer: Part Ii Cancer

“…Cancer may modify GI motility and digestion, and worsen absorption of nutrients, further enhancing weight loss (Shafi, 2019). Mechanical obstruction by the tumor and psychological factors may also be responsible for poor caloric intake (Diamantis et al, 2011;Ehrsson et al, 2021) A wasting syndrome, cachexia, occurs in many cancers, and especially with pancreatic and gastric cancers (Muliawati et al, 2012). The skeletal muscle wasting in cachexia is associated with significant weight loss (Webster et al, 2020).…”

Screening auf Mangelernährung bei Kopf-Hals-Tumor-Patienten vor onkologischer Therapie

“…Patienten mit einem Kopf-Hals-Tumor sind hoch gefährdet, im Rahmen ihrer Erkrankung eine Mangelernährung zu entwickeln [1,2,3,4]. Ursachen hierfür liegen in der onkologischen Erkrankung selbst, aber unter anderem auch in Entzündungen [5], Schmerzen [6] sowie Mundtrockenheit [7], die das Schluckvermögen und damit die orale Nutritions-und Flüssigkeitssicherung entscheidend in Folge der onkologischen Therapie beeinträchtigen können.…”