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• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent among frail older persons with cancer and is associated with poor health outcomes. Nutritional advice plays a vital role in addressing malnutrition in this population. Further research is needed regarding the nutritional status of frail older persons with cancer, as well as geriatric recommendations and interventions aimed at preventing or treating malnutrition within this group. Objective: This study aims to assess the nutritional status of frail older persons with cancer and offer a comprehensive overview of geriatric recommendations and interventions concerning nutritional status. Additionally, it will provide insights into weight changes and the nutritional status across different tumor types and timepoint of inclusion. Methodology: This secondary data analysis, focusing on nutritional status and related recommendations and interventions, uses previously collected data from a large-scale prospective multicenter observational cohort study involving older persons with cancer (n=8451; 22 Belgian hospitals; November 2012 - February 2015). Patients aged 70 and above with cancer were included. They were approached by a trained healthcare provider during a hospital visit for treatment decisions. Patients underwent frailty screening using the G8 screening instrument. A geriatric assessment followed if the G8 screening scored ≤14 out of 17. Patient, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short-Form (MNA-SF). At baseline, MNA-SF data were available for 5818 patients. The MNA-SF score ranges from 0 to 14: ≥12 indicates normal, 8-11 indicates risk of malnutrition, ≤7 indicates malnutrition. Results: The prevalence of the nutritional status using the MNA-SF shows that 17,72% had a normal nutritional status, 51,66% were at risk of malnutrition and 30,61% were malnourished. Over 58.53% of older persons with cancer received geriatric recommendations on nutritional status. Among those receiving recommendations, primary interventions were referral to a dietician, followed by referral to a geriatrician and geriatric consulting team. After three months 51.63% received nutrition-related recommendations. Dietician remained the primary source of intervention with an adherence rate of 81,67% compared to baseline. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of the risk of malnutrition among vulnerable older individuals with cancer, underscoring the need for early identification and intervention strategies to address nutritional challenges. The multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals specialized in geriatric care, nutrition, and related fields is crucial for optimizing care in this population.

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