Depression and appetite: predictors of malnutrition in gynecologic cancer

Purpose: The reported prevalence of malnutrition and related factors in gynecologic cancer varies. We aimed to describe nutritional status and to identify demographic, clinical, psychological, and nutritional factors contributing to malnutrition in gynecologic cancer patients.

Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 129 subjects were enrolled. Subjects agreed to undergo a face-to-face interview, including measurement of body mass index (BMI) and administration of structured questionnaires including the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ).

Results: Mean BMI was 23.4 kg/m² (range, 14.6–36.7 kg/m²) and median body weight was 55.0 kg (range, 38.5–91.3 kg). Sixty-nine (53.5 %) of 129 patients reported severe malnutrition according to the PG-SGA. Malnutrition among patients who had received chemotherapy was more common than among patients who had not received chemotherapy within 6 months. Depression and appetite were significant factors predicting malnutrition in patients with gynecologic cancer. However, malnutrition was not related to age, marital status, level of education, or annual income among demographic factors, nor age at onset of cancer, cancer type, stage, or duration of cancer among clinical factors.

Conclusions: Assessment of nutritional status should be considered along with depression and appetite in patients with gynecologic cancer. In addition, regular and consistent nutritional assessment is essential in gynecologic cancer patients because of the high prevalence of malnutrition in these patients.