Nutritional Risk Screening with NRS2002 among Hospitalized Cancer Patients in China

Abstract

Abstract: Objective The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) was used to assess the nutritional risk of hospitalized oncology patients in China. This study explored the factors affecting the risk of nutrition to provide a scientific basis for the assessment and treatment of malnutrition in oncology patients. Methods We used the NRS 2002 to evaluate the nutritional risk in 48,831 hospitalized cancer patients. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the general patient information. A Chi-squared test was applied to analyze the relationship between NRS 2002 scores and different demographic characteristics, and the NRS 2002 scores of cancer patients with different characteristics were compared by one-way ANOVA. Results Among 48,831 patients, 43.3% were women and 57.7% were men, and 36.5% (17,802) of patients were at risk of nutrition (score ≥ 3). The NRS 2002 score was the highest in leukemia patients (2.93 ± 1.28). A one-way ANOVA revealed that the differences in NRS 2002 scores among patients of different gender, ages, TNM stages, education levels, occupations and areas of residence were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Male patients had slightly higher NRS 2002 scores than females (2.33 vs. 2.17). The lowest NRS 2002 scores were in patients aged 45-59 (2.00 ± 1.26) years and the highest scores were in patients aged ≥ 70 (2.76 ± 1.43) years. The NRS 2002 score of patients receiving surgery was the highest (2.45 ± 1.41), and patients receiving surgery plus radiotherapy/chemotherapy was the lowest (2.00 ± 1.26). The risk of nutrition was highest in patients who were farmers (2.34 ± 1.37 scores) and lowest in office staff (2.15 ± 1.32 scores). Patients living in rural areas had the highest risk of nutrition (2.32 ± 1.37 scores). There were significant differences in the NRS 2002 scores for different cancer sub-types for different ethnic groups (P < 0.05), except for Zhuang individuals (P = 0.124). The risk of nutrition was highest in Uyghur patients (3.35 ± 1.33 scores) and lowest in Mongolians (2.04 ± 1.37 scores). Conclusion More attention should be paid to people at high risk of nutrition, such as elderly patients, patients with a high TNM stage, patients receiving surgical treatment, and patients living in rural areas. Active nutritional interventions should be carried out to improve the nutritional status of malnourished patients.