GLIM criteria validation and reliability in critically ill patients with cancer: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to assess the interrater reliability of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, a framework to provide a consensus diagnosis of malnutrition. We also aimed to investigate its concurrent and predictive validity in the context of patients with cancer admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Individuals aged ≥19 years with cancer who were admitted to the ICU within 48 h of their initial hospital admission were included. Nutrition status was assessed with the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and the GLIM criteria. Interrater reliability was assessed by the kappa test (>0.80). The SGA served as the established benchmark for assessing concurrent validity. To evaluate predictive validity, the occurrence of mortality within 30 days was the outcome, and Cox regression models were applied. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included: 66.9% were at nutrition risk, and 45.8% were malnourished according to the SGA. According to the GLIM criteria, 68.4% and 66% were identified as malnourished by evaluators 1 and 2, respectively (κ = 0.947; P < 0.001). The GLIM combination incorporating weight loss and the presence of inflammation exhibited sensitivity (82.4%) and specificity (92%). In the multivariate Cox regression models, most GLIM combinations emerged as independent predictors of complications. CONCLUSION: The GLIM criteria demonstrated satisfactory interrater reliability, and the combination involving weight loss and the presence of inflammation exhibited noteworthy sensitivity and specificity. Most GLIM combinations emerged as independent predictors of 30-day mortality.

Exploring the use of the GLIM criteria to diagnose malnutrition in cancer inpatients.

OBJECTIVES: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria establish a diagnosis of malnutrition based on the presence of at least one phenotypic and one etiologic criterion. This study aimed to assess the concurrent and predictive validity of the GLIM criteria in hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: This is an observational retrospective study, including 885 cancer patients, ages >18 y, admitted to a medical oncology inpatient unit between 2019 and 2020. All patients at risk for malnutrition according to the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 score were assessed by the subjective global assessment (SGA) and 14 different combinations of the GLIM criteria. The SGA was considered the gold standard for assessing the concurrent validity of the GLIM combinations. For a subsample of patients with data available on inflammatory markers (n = 198), the serum albumin and C-reactive protein were included in the combinations as etiologic criteria. The predictive validity of the different combinations was tested using the occurrence of surgical complications as the clinical outcome. The sensitivity and specificity values were calculated to assess the concurrent validity, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to test predictive validity. Adequate concurrent and predictive validity were determined as sensitivity and specificity values >80% and odds ratio values ≥2.0, respectively. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 61.0 y (interquartile range = 51.0-70.0). Head and neck cancer was the prevailing diagnosis and 375 patients were at nutritional risk. According to the SGA, 173 (26.1%) patients were malnourished (SGA categories B or C) and the prevalence of malnutrition ranged from 3.9% to 30.0%, according to the GLIM combinations. None of the tested combinations reached adequate concurrent validity; however, the presence of malnutrition according to four combinations independently predicted surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive validity of the GLIM was satisfactory in surgical cancer patients.

Effect of age on resting energy expenditure in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Because older patients with cancer are at high risk for developing malnutrition, it is critical to understand their energy needs and to feed them appropriately. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in resting energy expenditure between younger and older adults with cancer and in various age groups of older patients. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, and descriptive study from a single center included adult (≥18 to <60 y) and older (≥60 y) outpatients with gastrointestinal tract and head and neck cancers. According to the World Health Organization classification for adults and Pan American Health Organization for older individuals, nutritional status was estimated using body mass index. Nutritional risk screening was used to assess the nutritional risk and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment for those at risk. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry coupled to a gas exchange canopy. Bodystat and Quadscan 4000 multifrequency electrical bioimpedance devices were used to assess body composition at four frequencies (5, 50, 100, and 200 kHz). RESULTS: The study included 326 patients of whom 197 were older (60.4%), 244 were men (74.8%), 197 had gastric cancer (60.4%), and 129 had head and neck cancer (39.6%). Most patients had advanced cancer (stages III and IV) and had not undergone cancer treatment in the previous 3 mo. Compared with the younger adults, patients ≥60 y had a higher rate of malnutrition (88.4 versus 54.3%; P < 0.001), a higher percentage of fat-free mass deficit (88.3 versus 74.4%; P < 0.001), and higher percentage of fat mass (91.4 versus 58.9% adult; P < 0.001). The REE of older patients (1263.3 [234.1] kcal/d) was lower than that of patients ≥18 to <60 y (1382.5 [210.5] kcal/d; P < 0.001), for women (1055.2 kcal/d for the older adults versus 1214.3 kcal/d for younger adults), and men (1337.9 versus 1433 kcal/d; P = 0.001). The REE comparison categorized by decades has shown that for patients <60 y, an REE greater than those for individuals 60 to 69 y, 70 to 79 y, and ≥80 y (P < 0.001). REE in patients 60 to 69 y was greater than for those ≥80 y (P < 0.001). When compared with the Harris-Benedict formula, the REE intraclass correlation coefficient for all older patients was 0.514 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.064-0.736); for ages 60 to 69 y it was 0.527 (95% CI, 0.126-0.733), and for ages >70 y, it was 0.466 (95% CI, -0.080 to -0.756). CONCLUSION: Measured REE in patients with cancer decreases with age. This finding is critical for appropriate caloric provision for older patients with cancer.

Ultrasonography Echotexture as a surrogate for Sialadenitis secondary to 131I Radioiodine Therapy for differentiated Thyroid Cancer: a review and metaanalysis.

To systematically review and analyze the medical literature to assess ultrasonography echotexture changes in thyroid cancer patients for the detection of chronic sialadenitis caused by radioiodine therapy. METHODS: Sources were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and LILACS through November 2018. All studies that assessed ultrasonographic features before 131I administration and at 12 months after 131I administration were selected. After data extraction, statistical analysis was performed by using Stata software. RESULTS: From a total of 435 studies, 4 studies involving 665 patients were considered eligible, and echotexture heterogeneity was found with a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound echotexture may detect chronic sialadenitis secondary to salivary radioiodine therapy.

Validation and improvement of the predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The usual predictive equations for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) seem to be associated with significant inaccuracy in patients with advanced cancer. Recently, our group developed a predictive equation for patients with advanced head and neck cancer, showing a better accuracy when compared with indirect calorimetry. The aim of this study was to validate this predictive equation and, if necessary, to elaborate a new predictive equation for patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective, unicentric observational study. Data regarding the characteristics of the study were collected using an electronic medical record from June 2016 to January 2018. The nutritional status was calculated by the body mass index (BMI). Patients with nutritional risk, by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, were subjectively evaluated in relation to the nutritional status by the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Sarcopenia was defined as fat-free mass index ≤17.4 kg/m2 for men and ≤15 kg/m2 for women. Body composition and phase angle values were evaluated by electrical bioimpedance. REE was measured by indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: The study included 109 patients with advanced GI tract cancer. Most were male (72.5%), ≥60 y of age (61.5%), and had cancer in the esophagus region (62.4%). Most patients had not undergone any treatment at the time of the examination. Regarding nutritional characteristics, the majority of the patients were malnourished by BMI (71.6%), with a deficit of lean mass (79.8%), sarcopenia (83.5%), and a phase angle below the fifth percentile for age, sex, and BMI, showing in addition to a poor nutritional condition, an impaired cellular integrity. Most of the patients were hypermetabolic (56.9%) and their caloric intake in the preceding 3 d was insufficient in 43.1%. Through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), it was possible to observe the satisfactory agreement between the REE measured by the gold standard (calorimetry) versus the Souza-Singer's formula (ICC, 0.730; 95% confidence interval, 0.659-0.789; P < 0.001). When we did the multiple linear regression model, we figured that in this group of patients with GI cancer, only lean mass, phase angle, and sex were the age-adjusted independent variables that influenced REE, which was different from the Souza-Singer formula. This way a new prediction formula for this population has been created and needs to be validated. CONCLUSION: A new equation considering phase angle and body composition can improve the accuracy of the predictive equation.

Ultrasonography Echotexture as a surrogate for Sialadenitis secondary to 131I Radioiodine Therapy for differentiated Thyroid Cancer: a review and metaanalysis

To systematically review and analyze the medical literature to assess ultrasonography echotexture changes in thyroid cancer patients for the detection of chronic sialadenitis caused by radioiodine therapy. Methods: Sources were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and LILACS through November 2018. All studies that assessed ultrasonographic features before 131I administration and at 12 months after 131I administration were selected. After data extraction, statistical analysis was performed by using Stata software. Results: From a total of 435 studies, 4 studies involving 665 patients were considered eligible, and echotexture heterogeneity was found with a significant difference. Conclusions: Ultrasound echotexture may detect chronic sialadenitis secondary to salivary radioiodine therapy.

Appetite Assessment of Hospitalized Cancer Patients in Brazil - A Validation Study.

OBJECTIVES: Appetite loss, a common symptom in cancer patients, contributes to worsened nutritional status. A validated specific tool to assess appetite is clinically useful for diagnosing and identifying symptoms and signs that could be reversed with nutritional and pharmacological therapies. The aim of this study is to produce a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Hill and Blundell visual analog scale (VAS) for appetite and investigate its validity among hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: The original English VAS version was translated into Brazilian Portuguese in full accordance with the guidelines in the literature and adapted to the Brazilian context by conducting interviews and meetings with an expert committee until the final version was reached. Afterwards, the version was validated in hospitalized cancer patients in a cross-sectional study at São Paulo Cancer Institute (ICESP), where the relationships between breakfast intake (rest-ingestion index) and VAS were compared. The Spearman test was used to verify the correlation between the rest-ingestion index and the VAS ratings. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with a mean age of 56.1 (±12.3) years answered the Portuguese VAS version, and their breakfast intake was evaluated. The mean rest-ingestion index was 18.8%. The correlations between the rest-ingestion index (food acceptance) and three questions of the Portuguese visual analog scale version were inverse and significant: first question (ρ -0.3028 p=0.0046), second question (ρ -0.2317 p=0.0319) and third question (ρ -0.3049 p=0.0043). CONCLUSION: The "Appetite Assessment Scale of Brazilian Oncology Patients" is a valid instrument to assess appetite in hospitalized cancer patients in Brazil.

Appetite Assessment of Hospitalized Cancer Patients in Brazil - A Validation Study

OBJECTIVES: Appetite loss, a common symptom in cancer patients, contributes to worsened nutritional status. A validated specific tool to assess appetite is clinically useful for diagnosing and identifying symptoms and signs that could be reversed with nutritional and pharmacological therapies. The aim of this study is to produce a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Hill and Blundell visual analog scale (VAS) for appetite and investigate its validity among hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: The original English VAS version was translated into Brazilian Portuguese in full accordance with the guidelines in the literature and adapted to the Brazilian context by conducting interviews and meetings with an expert committee until the final version was reached. Afterwards, the version was validated in hospitalized cancer patients in a cross-sectional study at São Paulo Cancer Institute (ICESP), where the relationships between breakfast intake (rest-ingestion index) and VAS were compared. The Spearman test was used to verify the correlation between the rest-ingestion index and the VAS ratings. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with a mean age of 56.1 (±12.3) years answered the Portuguese VAS version, and their breakfast intake was evaluated. The mean rest-ingestion index was 18.8%. The correlations between the rest-ingestion index (food acceptance) and three questions of the Portuguese visual analog scale version were inverse and significant: first question (ρ -0.3028 p=0.0046), second question (ρ -0.2317 p=0.0319) and third question (ρ -0.3049 p=0.0043). CONCLUSION: The "Appetite Assessment Scale of Brazilian Oncology Patients" is a valid instrument to assess appetite in hospitalized cancer patients in Brazil.

Resting energy expenditure and body composition in patients with head and neck cancer: An observational study leading to a new predictive equation.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with head and neck cancer have changes in body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) related to significant inflammatory processes. We investigated REE and body composition in a population of patients with head and neck cancer, comparing the measured REE with predicted energy expenditure and deriving an equation of anthropometric values and body composition. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, descriptive study of a single center included patients with head and neck cancer. We evaluated nutritional status by body mass index (BMI) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), body composition by electric bioimpedance, and REE by indirect calorimetry (IC). RESULTS: We included 140 patients, most of whom were men (80.7%), 60 y or older (58.6%), and had advanced disease (77.9%). Most were malnourished by BMI standards (77.9%) and severely malnourished according to the PG-SGA (49.3%), with a fat-free mass below the ideal values (82.9%) associated with sarcopenia (92.1%). Hypermetabolism was 57%. When comparing REE with the Harris-Benedict formula, we found the agreement limits from -546 613 to 240 708, the mean difference was -152 953 (95% confidence interval [CI], -185 844 to -120 062) and Pitman's variance test was r = -0.294 (P = 0.001). When we included the activity factor and the thermogenesis factor in REE and compared with Harris-Benedict, we found the agreement limits from -764.423 to 337.087, a mean difference of -213.668 (95% CI -259.684 to -167.652), and the Pitman's variance text at r = -0.292 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Predictive equations, generally recommended by guidelines, are imprecise when compared with IC measures. Therefore, we suggest a new predictive equation.

Cachexia Stage, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, Phase Angle, and Handgrip Strength in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

The aim of this study was to correlate patients with gastrointestinal cancer, classified according to different stages of cancer cachexia (SCC) as proposed by Fearon, with nutritional assessment tools such as PG-SGA, phase angle (PA), and handgrip strength. One hundred one patients with a mean age of 61.8 ± 12.8 yr, with 58.4% being men were included. 32.6% were malnourished according to the body mass index (BMI). A severe or moderate malnutrition had been diagnosed in 63.3% when assessed using the PG-SGA, 60.4% had decreased handgrip strength, and 57.4% had lower grades of PA. Among the patients in the study, 26% did not have cachexia, 11% had precachexia, 56% cachexia, and 8% refractory cachexia. The PG-SGA, PA, and handgrip strength were associated with cachexia (P ≤ 0.001). An increased risk of death was found in patients with cachexia [RR: 9.1; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0.1-90.2, P = 0.039], refractory cachexia (RR: 69.4, CI 95%: 4.5-1073.8, P = 0.002), and increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P < 0.001). In conclusion, most of the patients with digestive system cancer had cachexia or refractory cachexia in the first nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk, as determined by PG-SGA, was correlated with PA and handgrip strength. High CRP levels, cachexia, and refractory cachexia were prognostic factors for cancer patients.

Quality control of enteral nutrition therapy in cancer patients at nutritional risk.

INTRODUCTION: Quality indicators in nutritional therapy (QINTs) allow for the practical assessment of quality in the management of enteral nutrition therapy (ENT) among hospitalized patients. OBJECTIVE: To control ENT quality in cancer patients at nutritional risk. METHODS: A prospective, observational study was performed with cancer patients over 19 years of age who had undergone exclusive ENT for at least 72 h. Nutritional Risk Screening was used to assess nutritional risk; in the presence of nutritional risk, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) was used. Six QINTs were applied. RESULTS: Our study included 211 patients (mean age: 59 ± 10 years, 67.3% men). Most common cancer diagnoses were head and neck (68.2%) and gastrointestinal (18%). Nutritional risk was identified in 93.3% (n = 197) of patients; SGA identified malnutrition in 84.2% of patients (n = 166). ENT was used for 9.7 ± 7 days, presenting a daily deficit of -243.1 ± 141 ml of dietary volume, -363.3 ± 214.1 kcal, and -14.2 ± 8.41 g of protein. Three of the six QINTs were in accordance with the proposed goal: frequency of SGA application, calculations of nutritional needs, and frequency of diarrhea. Three of the six QINTs were in disagreement with the proposed goal: ENT infused volume exceeding 70% of prescribed volume, frequency of digestive fasting exceeding 24 h, and frequency of constipation. Prescriptions for anticholinergic drugs (p = 0.023) and diuretics (p = 0.007) were associated with diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Nutritional risk and malnutrition are frequent among ENT cancer patients. Quality control in ENT was moderately impaired by episodes of fasting and intestinal motility disorders.