Subjective global nutritional assessment: applicability in children and adolescents with malignant tumors

Introduction: This study investigated the applicability of the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool to evaluate the nutritional status of pediatric cancer patients. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational cohort study of infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors. Participants were evaluated at the moment they were diagnosed with a malignant tumor (EV1) and at the third month of treatment (EV2). Objective data were collected and the SGNA questionnaire was applied. Correlation between the methods was performed using the Kendall test. Results: We evaluated 216 patients at EV1 and 172 patients at EV2. During EV1, 7% of patients presented with some degree of malnutrition, according to objective measures, and 35.7% according to the SGNA. During EV2, they presented 6.4% and 26.8%, respectively. The SGNA showed ability to diagnose more malnutrition than objective indicators and the agreement found between both methods was moderate and weak. We observed a significant correlation between the SGNA and the nutritional indicators (p = <0.002), thus proving its efficacy in assessing nutritional status. Conclusion: The SGNA was applicable for evaluating the nutritional status of children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors, and effective in tracking malnutrition prevalence when compared to objective nutritional assessment methods. (AU)

Avaliação Nutricional Subjetiva Global: aplicabilidade em crianças e adolescentes com neoplasia maligna - resultados preliminares / Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment: applicability in children and adolescents with malignant neoplasm ­ preliminary results

Introdução: Crianças e adolescentes com câncer apresentam alterações provenientes tanto da patologia quanto do tratamento que podem refletir no estado nutricional (EN) ao diagnóstico e ao longo do tratamento. O objetivo primário do estudo foi avaliar a aplicabilidade do instrumento Avaliação Nutricional Subjetiva Global (ANSG) na avaliação do Estado Nutricional (EN) de pacientes oncológicos pediátricos. Métodos: Estudo de coorte observacional e descritivo com lactentes, crianças e adolescentes diagnosticados com neoplasia maligna. Os participantes do estudo foram avaliados ao diagnóstico (AV1) e ao terceiro mês de tratamento (AV2). Dados objetivos foram aferidos e o instrumento ANSG foi aplicado. O teste de Kendall foi utilizado para analisar a correlação entre os métodos. Resultados: Realizadas 42 avaliações ao diagnóstico e 26 ao terceiro mês de tratamento. Observou-se predominância de pacientes bem nutridos nos dois momentos da avaliação. Na AV1, 7,2% dos pacientes foram identificados com algum grau de desnutrição conforme indicadores objetivos e 38,1% de acordo com o ANSG. Na AV2, houve redução na prevalência de pacientes desnutridos. O método ANSG mostrou correlação significativa com os indicadores nutricionais peso-para-idade e estaturapara- idade e foi eficaz no rastreamento de desnutrição. Conclusão: A ANSG é um instrumento útil na identificação de risco nutricional e pode ser utilizado na prática clínica assistencial, em conjunto com outros métodos de avaliação nutricional. O monitoramento do EN da população oncológica pediátrica é fundamental, a fim de intervir de maneira adequada. (AU)

from both the pathology itself and the treatment, which can reflect on their nutritional status (NS) at diagnosis and throughout the treatment. The primary objective of the study was to assess the applicability of the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool to assess the NS of pediatric oncology patients. Methods: This was a descriptive, observational cohort study including infants, children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant neoplasia. Participants were assessed at diagnosis (NA1) and in the third month of treatment (NA2). Objective data were measured and the SGNA tool was applied. The Kendall test was used in order to analyze the correlation between the methods. Results: A total of 42 assessments were performed at diagnosis and 26 in the third month of treatment. A prevalence of well-nourished patients was observed in the two assessment moments. During NA1, 7.2% of the patients presented some degree of malnutrition according to objective indicators and 38.1%, according to SGNA. During NA2, there was a reduction in the prevalence of malnourished patients. The SGNA method showed a significant correlation with weightfor- age and height-for-age nutritional indicators and was efficient to trace malnutrition. Conclusion: The SGNA is a useful tool for the identification of nutritional risk and may be used in the clinical practice in combination with other nutritional assessment methods. The monitoring of the NS of pediatric patients who have cancer is vital in order to ensure adequate intervention. (AU)