Evaluation of changes in quality of life and nutritional status of cancer patients applying to Gaziantep University Medical Faculty department of oncology during the COVİD-19 pandemic

Introduction: The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19 spread rapidly to many countries and was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, killing more than 4000 people. The aim of our study is to determine the measures that can be taken by detecting the changes in the quality of life and nutritional status of the patients with oncological diagnosis who applied to our hospital during the COVID 19 pandemic, using globally accepted questionnaires such as NRS-2002 and EORTC QLQ C-30. Method: Our study included 324 patients diagnosed with malignancy, who applied to the outpatient clinic of Gaziantep University, Şahinbey Training and Research Hospital between January 2022 and March 2022 or were hospitalized in the service. The patients included in the study were evaluated with our own sociodemographic data form, and then NRS-2002 and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires were conducted. Conclusion: Our study included 324 patients. 49.07% (159 patients) of the patients were male and 50.93% (165 patients) were female. 20.37% of our patients (66 patients) had COVID-19 disease. While those living with their families constituted 96.91% of the patients, at least one of the family members of 36.42% of the patients had COVID-19 disease. While 76.23% (247 patients) of the patients were vaccinated, 23.77% (77 patients) were not vaccinated. Of the patients included in our study, 22.8% (74 patients) had breast cancer, 19.7% (64 patients) colorectal cancer, 17.5% (57 patients) lung cancer, 15.1% ( 49 patients) were followed up with genitourinary system cancer. Considering the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life scales according to the diagnosis of the patients in our study, according to the stages, according to the age, according to the history of chemotherapy, according to the history of passing the covid, according to the status of being vaccinated against the covid; No statistically significant difference was found in general health score, functional scale and symptom scale according to diagnosis (p>0.05). In our study, in accordance with the literature, when the general health score and symptom scale were examined according to the radiotherapy history; no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was found according to the functional scale (p=0.026). Considering the general health score and symptom scale by gender; no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was found according to the functional scale (p=0.028). Considering the general health score and functional scale scores according to the delay of treatment; scores were higher in those who did not delay their treatment (p=0.001). According to the symptom scale, the scores were higher in those who delayed their treatment, and a statistically significant difference was found (p=0.001). Considering the general health score according to the delays of the outpatient clinic control; The scores were higher in those who did not delay their control, but no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.086). According to the functional scale, the scores were higher in those who did not delay their control, and a statistically significant difference was found (p=0.001). According to the symptom scale, the scores were higher in those who delayed their control, and no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.071). When NRS analyzes were examined according to the type of malignancy, it was determined that patients with breast cancer and followed-up were not at risk in terms of nutrition. When the patients followed up with gastric esophagus and pancreatic bile duct malignancies were examined, it was determined that the patients were in the risk group in terms of nutrition. A statistically significant difference was found between NRS analyzes according to the type of diagnosis (p=0.001). When NRS analyzes were examined according to the stages of the diseases, it was determined that stage 4 patients were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, and stage 3 patients were mostly in the follow-up group. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the stages according to NRS analysis, this difference was close to the statistical significance limit (p=0.052). When NRS analyzes according to age were examined, it was determined that patients over the age of 65 were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, while patients under the age of 65 were mostly in the follow-up group. A statistically significant difference was found between age groups according to NRS analysis (p=0.001). When NRS analyzes by gender were examined, it was found that male patients were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, and female patients were mostly in the follow-up group, contrary to the literature. According to NRS analysis, statistically significant difference was found between gender groups (p=0.046). When the NRS analyzes were examined according to whether or not to receive radiotherapy, it was determined that the patients who received radiotherapy were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, and the patients who did not receive it were mostly in the follow-up group. According to the NRS analysis, a statistically significant difference was found between the radiotherapy groups (p=0.005). Contrary to the literature, no statistically significant difference was found according to whether or not to receive chemotherapy (p>0.05). According to NRS analysis, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of nutritional status according to covid transmission and vaccination status (p>0.05). Contrary to the literature, in our study, when NRS analyzes were examined according to the delay of treatment during the pandemic period, it was found that patients who postponed treatment were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, while patients who did not postpone treatment were mostly in the follow-up group. According to NRS analysis, statistically significant difference was found between gender groups (p=0.009). Consistent with the literature, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of nutritional deferral status during the pandemic period (p>0.05). Keywords: covid 19, malignancy, nutrition, quality of life