Screening for malnutrition in oral cavity cancer patients prior to treatment: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the frequency of pre-operative malnourishment in patients being treated for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. A retrospective chart review was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, on 62 patients. Patients were screened pre-operatively through a standard nutritional assessment tool at the time of admission to assess for malnutrition. Mean age of presentation was 48.34 ± 13.11 years, mean height was 165 ± 8.62cm, weight 66.09 ± 14.98 kg and BMI of 24.09 ± 4.84. Males were 82.3% and 17.7% were females. At the time of admission, a significant number or patients, 12 (19.4%) were prone to malnourishment, while 3 (4.8%) patients were malnourished: Assessment was done by using a standardised nutritional assessment tool.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Squamous cell Carcinoma, Radiotherapy

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