ABSTRACT Clinical, anthropometric, hematologic, and biochemical variables, evaluated immediately before starting nutritional treatment, were related to survival in 76 terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition. At baseline, abnormally low values were observed in the following percentages of patients: 40.8% for body mass index, 59.2% for serum albumin, 84.2% for hemoglobin, 48.7% for lymphocyte count, and 60% for serum cholesterol. Survival on home parenteral nutrition ranged between 6 and 301 d, with a median of 74 d. Hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum cholesterol were lower in patients with a survival of less than 3 mo. With regard to Karnofsky performance status, median survival times were 63 d for a score below or equal to 50 and 128 d for a score between 60 and 70. Albumin and a Karnofsky score above 50 (but not age, weight, body mass index, lymphocyte count, or cholesterol) emerged (with a positive sign) as predictors of survival. In conclusion, terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction are often malnourished, showing a high prevalence of anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Survival differs widely and can be predicted only to a limited extent from initial values of serum albumin and Karnofsky performance status.
Predictors of survival in terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition / Pasanisi, Fabrizio; Orban, A.; Scalfi, Luca; Alfonsi, L.; Santarpia, Lidia; Zurlo, E.; Celona, A.; Potenza, A.; Contaldo, Franco. - In: NUTRITION. - ISSN 0899-9007. - STAMPA. - 17:7-8(2001), pp. 581-584.
Predictors of survival in terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition.
PASANISI, FABRIZIO;SCALFI, LUCA;SANTARPIA, LIDIA;CONTALDO, FRANCO
2001
Abstract
ABSTRACT Clinical, anthropometric, hematologic, and biochemical variables, evaluated immediately before starting nutritional treatment, were related to survival in 76 terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition. At baseline, abnormally low values were observed in the following percentages of patients: 40.8% for body mass index, 59.2% for serum albumin, 84.2% for hemoglobin, 48.7% for lymphocyte count, and 60% for serum cholesterol. Survival on home parenteral nutrition ranged between 6 and 301 d, with a median of 74 d. Hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum cholesterol were lower in patients with a survival of less than 3 mo. With regard to Karnofsky performance status, median survival times were 63 d for a score below or equal to 50 and 128 d for a score between 60 and 70. Albumin and a Karnofsky score above 50 (but not age, weight, body mass index, lymphocyte count, or cholesterol) emerged (with a positive sign) as predictors of survival. In conclusion, terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction are often malnourished, showing a high prevalence of anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Survival differs widely and can be predicted only to a limited extent from initial values of serum albumin and Karnofsky performance status.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.