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Risk factors for malnutrition in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

Malnutrition is a common complication in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, there are few studies on risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients. Our aims were to identify the risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients.

Methods

NPC patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study, and they were divided into well-nourished and malnourished groups according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). Potential risk factors were initially screened using univariate analysis (p < 0.1), and the selected ones were analyzed by logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05) to identify the risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients.

Results

In total, 305 NPC patients meeting eligibility criteria were enrolled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that low body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.596, 95% CI 0.520–0.683, p < 0.001), the high total radiation dose received (OR = 1.046, 95% CI 1.023–1.069, p < 0.001), appetite loss (OR = 2.839, 95% CI 1.269–6.353, p = 0.011), and low PA (OR = 0.993, 95% CI 0.988–0.998, p = 0.008) were risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients.

Conclusions

The low BMI, the high total radiation dose received, appetite loss, and low prealbumin were risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients.

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Data Availability

Data is available on reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Serdang, Malaysia

    Pengpeng Wang & Kim Lam Soh

  2. Nursing College of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Pengpeng Wang

  3. Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Yanping Ying, Jinlian Liao, Xueling Huang & Huihan Zhao

  4. Department of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Xiao Pan & Lan Deng

  5. Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University Malaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Xiaoxia Yu

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  1. Pengpeng Wang
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  2. Kim Lam Soh
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  4. Jinlian Liao
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  8. Lan Deng
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  9. Xiaoxia Yu
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Contributions

Pengpeng Wang, Kim Lam Soh, Yanping Ying, and Jinlian Liao designed the study. Xueling Huang, Huihan Zhao, Xiao Pan, and Lan Deng collected and analysed the data. Pengpeng Wang, Kim Lam Soh, Yanping Ying, Jinlian Liao, and Xiaoxia Yu prepared, drafted, and revised the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kim Lam Soh.

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The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the institutional review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (No. 2022-KT-Gui Wei-005). All the data collected were anonymous. Participation was voluntary and all participants provided informed consent.

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Wang, P., Soh, K.L., Ying, Y. et al. Risk factors for malnutrition in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Support Care Cancer 31, 723 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-08166-8

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