The relationship between nutrition and cancer in elderly hospitalized patients: a retrospective chart analysis

Background: The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the relationship between nutrition and cancer in elderly hospitalized patients. Methods: : A total of 339 elderly patients were divided into cancer and non-cancer groups. Information regarding nutritional blood parameters (NBP), including TP, ALB, PA, TLC, and Hb; nutritional risk screening (NRS), including ADL, MNA-SF, WST; and polypharmacy was collected and analyzed. Results: : Among the 339 patients, 94 (27.7%) were women, 81 (23.9%) were cancer patients, and 258 (76.1%) were non-cancer patients. Overall, 25.3% of patients were malnourished. Patients in the cancer group were younger, with higher rates of inflammation, lower rates of polypharmacy and swallow dysfunction, increased ADL, and decreased MNA-SF score. The BMI, TP, PA, Hb, and TLC were notably decreased in cancer patients. The MNA-SF score had a positive correlation with BMI, TP, ALB, PA, Hb, TLC, and ADL, but a negative correlation with CRP, WST score, polypharmacy, and age. Conclusion: There was a close relationship between nutritional status and cancer in elderly patients. Geriatric patients with cancer were more prone to a poor nutritional status. Nutritional screening, assessment, and intervention should be increased to improve the prognosis in cancer patients.