The health risks of dysphagia for patients with head and neck cancer: a multicentre prospective observational study

It is well known that malnutrition is a frequent co-morbidity in cancer patients, especially in those with head and neck neoplasms. This may be due both to the presence of dysphagia symptoms and to the appearance of adverse effects on chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy. The aim of this retrospective observational multicentric study is to evaluate the nutritional status between dysphagia cancer patients and non-dysphagia cancer patients. Data from 60 patients were analysed, 31 of which without dysphagia and 29 with dysphagia. Results highlight that patients with dysphagia had higher involuntary body weight loss than non-dysphagia ones (p < 0.001). By analysing the entire population, it stands out a weight loss rate of 12 +/- 9% compared to the usual weight was observed and a prevalence of moderate / severe malnutrition diagnosis of 53%. Furthermore, 76% of the population who manifested the symptom of dysphagia presented severe malnutrition already at the first visit, compared to 32% of non-dysphagia subjects.

Automated summary

The study found that malnutrition is common in cancer patients, especially in those with head and neck neoplasms, due to dysphagia symptoms and adverse effects of chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Patients with dysphagia were more likely to experience involuntary weight loss and severe malnutrition compared to non-dysphagia patients.