Risk Factors of Lower Diet Quality by Gender in Cancer Survivors : Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) 2008-2019

Abstract Purpose Previous studies have shown the inverse association between diet quality and cancer mortality. Therefore, this study aims to discover the factors that affect diet quality among cancer survivors. Methods We analyzed the 12–year KNHANES data, which included 2,756 subjects. Twenty-nine factors were analyzed. Results Risk factors for lower diet quality differed between males and females. A male cancer survivor who is aged  9 hours a day, unaware of a nutritional fact label, insecure in food, non-user of dietary supplements, not on a diet, limited in activity, perceiving stress, and obese, is more likely to have poorer diet quality. On the other hand, a female cancer survivor who is aged < 65, a pink-collar worker, inexperienced in nutritional education, non-user of dietary supplements, obese, and has a lower education level, and cervical or stomach cancer is prone to have a lower quality of diet. Conclusion Risk Factors of lower diet quality are gender-specific. Therefore, gender-specific factors should be considered when identifying and intervening in cancer survivors at risk for poorer diet quality. Implications for Cancer Survivors: The finding of gender-specific factors might help us to detect cancer survivors at high risk of poorer diet quality and to implement nutritional intervention for them.