Effect of nutrition intake method with adaptive viscosity on nutritional status of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of nutrition intake method with adaptive viscosity on nutritional status of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy (RT). Methods 77 laryngeal carcinoma patients with dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy were divided randomly into two groups by a random number table as study group (SG, n=39) and control group (CG, n=38). The CG received routine diet instruction and swallowing training, while the SG received oral nutritional supplementation with adaptive viscosity in additon. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin, albumin, prealbumin and scores of nutritional status at the end and 3 months after RT were compared between the two groups. Results There were 34 patients (87.2%) and 32 patients (84.2%) with nutritional status scores more than or equal to 2 at the end of RT in the two groups. At 3 months after RT, the body weight, BMI, hemoglobin, albumin, prealbumin, daily intake and nutritional status scores in the study group were significantly higher than those at the end of RT and those in the control group [(61.28±11.16) vs. (51.82±7.36), (56.44±10.69)kg; (20.57±6.13) vs. (18.81±4.43), (19.47±5.36)kg/m2; (134.87±17.86) vs. (114.68±15.25), (123.58±19.34)g/L; (40.74±7.54) vs. (36.77±5.27), (37.94±8.47)g/L; (312.83±35.83) vs. (271.56±32.82), (290.73±41.38)g/L; (2 047±126) vs. (1 512±143), (1 589±138)kcal; (2.36±0.93) vs. (3.70±1.80), (3.14±1.26); P all<0.05]. The level of the body weight and hemoglobin in the control group at 3 months after RT were significantly higher than those at end of RT [(56.44±10.69) vs. (51.56±8.34)kg, P=0.025; (123.58±19.34) vs. (113.36±16.56)g/L, P=0.023]. During 3 months, the rate of pulmonary infection was 1 (2.5%) in the study group and 6 (15.8%) in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.073, P=0.044). Conclusion Nutrition intake method with adaptive viscosity can effectively improve the nutritional status of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy and reduce the infection rate of lung. Key words: Laryngeal neoplasm; Dysphagia; Nutrition intake method; Viscosity; Nutritional status