Nutrition outcomes and treatment toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer receiving helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy (H-IMRT) provides excellent limitation of dose to tissues not requiring treatment, although acute toxicity still occurs. The present study aimed to determine how treatment-related acute toxicities affect nutrition outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in 194 patients undergoing curative intent H-IMRT with or without other treatment modalities. Weight outcomes (kg) and acute toxicity and dysphagia data were collected during treatment using Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE), version 4.0. RESULTS: Significant weight loss (> 10%) was observed in 30% of high nutritional risk patients and 7% of low nutritional risk patients. Nausea, adjusted for baseline dysphagia, in high nutritional risk patients and nausea, dysphagia and pharyngeal mucositis in low nutritional risk patients were significant factors in explaining the percentage loss in baseline weight to treatment completion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant weight loss remains an issue during treatment, despite improvements in radiotherapy technology and high-level multidisciplinary care.

Enteral nutrition support and treatment toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive or adjuvant helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Enteral nutrition (EN) is often required in patients with head and neck cancer (HNSCC); however, initiation criteria is limited or inconsistent. This study aimed to describe the relationship of treatment toxicities and requirement for EN and investigate toxicity and baseline characteristics association with EN duration. METHODS: Acute toxicities and baseline characteristics were collected from patients with HNSCC (n = 110) undergoing H-IMRT. Percentage EN contributing to estimated requirements and EN duration were measured. RESULTS: The threshold for patients needing ≥50% of estimated requirements via EN increased from week 3 to 4 for grade ≥2 oral/pharyngeal mucositis, dysgeusia, thick saliva and nausea, and for grade 3 dysphagia. Patients with grade 2-3 dysphagia had a reduced risk of ceasing EN compared to those with grade 0-1 dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: Using acute toxicities in clinical practice may be a useful tool to inform prompt initiation of EN prior to decline in nutritional status and anticipate EN duration.

Micronutrient deficiency risk in long-term enterally fed patients: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The micronutrient status of those receiving long-term enteral nutrition (EN) is poorly characterised. This systematic review was undertaken to determine prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in those receiving EN; the impact of the route of feeding; whether underlying disease or clinical factors were associated with micronutrient status; and the efficacy of interventions utilised to treat identified micronutrient deficiency. METHODS: Electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science) were searched to June 2021 for publications of primary investigation of micronutrient status in adults or children (>5yrs) receiving EN for >2 months in their usual residence. Independent assessment of compliance with inclusion criteria (Covidence®), data extraction of predefined data points, assessment of basis (Academy of Dietetics Quality Checklist) and certainty of evidence (GRADE) was assessed by at least two authors. (PROSPERO Registration: CRD42021261113). RESULTS: Thirty-one studies (n = 744) met inclusion criteria. Deficiency was reported for copper, zinc, selenium, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, D and E: Only copper, zinc and selenium were associated with physical/haematological manifestations of deficiency. Jejunal feeding was associated with the development of copper deficiency and often required gastric or parenteral replacement to resolve the issue. Circumstances leading to deficiency included receiving feed products formulated with inadequate amounts of the implicated nutrient, low feed product volumes in the context of low macronutrient requirements, and nutritional decline prior to commencement of EN. Potential confounding factors such as inflammation were rarely accounted for. No studies investigated the contribution of underlying clinical condition on micronutrient status, and no other clinical or demographic features appeared to impact outcomes. Reported methods for treating identified deficiencies were usually successful in reversing deficiency symptoms. The certainty of evidence is very low, and the level of bias moderate to high. CONCLUSION: While the evidence is very uncertain about the effect of long-term enteral feeding on the development of micronutrient deficiencies, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of micronutrient deficiency developing in long-term EN fed patients. Those who may be at increased risk are those receiving nutrition into the jejunum, those who meet macronutrient requirements in low volumes of EN product, and those commencing EN in a nutritionally deplete state. Further research and surveillance of micronutrient status with contemporary EN products and practices is required.

Evaluation of a novel pre-treatment model of nutrition care for patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.

AIMS: Weight loss and malnutrition occur frequently in patients with head and neck cancer and are associated with reduced survival. This pragmatic study aimed to determine the effect of a novel pre-treatment model of nutrition care on nutrition outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: This health service evaluation consisted of an evaluation of the new model of care implementation (Phase 1) and an evaluation of patient outcomes (Phase 2) in pre- and post-implementation cohorts (n = 64 and n = 47, respectively). All Phase 2 patients received a prophylactic gastrostomy. The new model of care consisted of dietary counselling and commencement of proactive supplementary enteral nutrition via a prophylactic gastrostomy, in addition to normal oral intake, prior to treatment commencement. Nutrition outcomes were collected at baseline (pre-treatment) and 3 months post-radiotherapy completion. RESULTS: The new model of care was successfully incorporated into practice with high referral (96.5%) and attendance (91.5%) rates to the counselling session, and high adherence rates to proactive tube feeding (80.9%). Patients in the post-implementation cohort had less weight-loss (1.2%; p = 0.338) and saw less of a decline in nutritional status compared to patients in the pre-implementation cohort (23% vs. 30%, respectively; p = 0.572), deemed clinically important. However, patients still experienced critical weight loss overall (mean 9.9%). CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment nutrition care was feasible in standard clinical practice and demonstrated clinically relevant outcome improvements for patients. Future high-quality research is warranted to investigate further multidisciplinary strategies to attenuate weight-loss further, inclusive of patient-reported barriers and enablers to nutrition interventions.

Home-based telehealth service for swallowing and nutrition management following head and neck cancer treatment.

Introduction Following (chemo)radiotherapy (C/RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC), patients return to hospital for regular outpatient reviews with speech pathology (SP) and nutrition and dietetics (ND) for acute symptom monitoring, nutritional management, and swallowing and communication rehabilitation. The aim of the current study was to determine the feasibility of a home-based telehealth model for delivering SP and ND reviews, to provide patients with more convenient access to these appointments. Methods Service outcomes, costs, and consumer satisfaction were examined across 30 matched participants: 15 supported via the standard model of care (SMOC), and 15 via the home-based telehealth model of care (TMOC). Results All patients were successfully managed via telehealth. The TMOC was more efficient, with a reduced number ( p < 0.003) and duration ( p < 0.01) of appointments required until discharge. Significant patient cost savings ( p = 0.002) were reported for the TMOC due to decreased travel requirements. While staff costs were reduced, additional telehealth equipment levies resulted in a lower but non-significant overall cost difference to the health service when using the TMOC. High satisfaction was reported by all participants attending the TMOC. Discussion The findings support the feasibility of a home-based telehealth model for conducting SP and ND reviews post C/RT for HNC.