Assesment of quality of life, anxiety and nutritional status in adult oncology patients

This study aims to evaluate quality of life, anxiety, depression and nutritional status in adult oncology patients. For this purpose, the patients applied in Sağlık Bilimleri University Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training And Research Hospital Radiation Oncology Clinic between January 2019 and April 2019 are participated in this study. There are 99 male and 102 female patients between 18-64 years old in this study. The information about socio-demographichs, dietary habits, health status and some antropometric measurements, biochemical results and 24 hour diet recall are collected via surveys. Quality of life of the patients, evaluated with " European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire'' (EORTC QLQ-C30), while anxiety and depression states evaluated by "Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale'' (HAD). The mean age of the patients was 54.8±9.00. The 14.4% of the cancer patients had gastrointestinal system cancer (GIS), while the 85.6% of them out of GIS cancer. The most common type of cancer found in the male patients was lung, prostate and head-neck. However, female patients most common ones were breast, endometrium and lung cancers. Body mass index (BMI) average was found 26.7±5 kg/m² in male patients while it is 29±5.4 kg/m² in female patients. The male patients who has GIS cancer, have lower body weight, BMI, mid-upper arm circumferences, waists, hips circumference, waist–hip and waist-height ratio average than patients who has cancer apart from GIS (p<0.05). The patients who treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time, have a lower body weight, BMI, mid-upper arm circumferences, waists, hips, waist–hip ratio and waist-height ratio average than patients who is only taking radiotherapy. The daily energy consumption value for the patients are found 1614.2±538.1 kkal for female, 1657.7±537.1 for male and energy consumption per kilograms are found 22.8±8.9 kkal/kg, 22.2±8.4 kkal/kg respectively (p>0.05). The average consumption value for protein per kilogram are found 0.8±0.3 g/kg for female, 0.8±0.3 g/kg in male patients. Daily intake of the vitamin and minerals are compared to Turkey Nutrition Guide (TUBER 2015) and it is concluded that thiamine, potassium, calcium an magnesium intake levels are below than the needed amount (p>0.05). Average depression and anxiety points for female patients 6.5±4.10 and 7.3±4.60 respectively, while it was 5.8±5.60 and 5.8±4.90 for male (p<0.05). The global health status point average for patients was 53.7±21.9. It is stated that patients have highest point for cognitive function and have the lowest one for the social functions. The four most common symptoms on the symptom scale were fatigue, financial issues, sleep disturbance and pain. Female patients have lower functional and pyhsical scale points and higher fatigue and nausea points (p<0.05). The patients who has prostate cancer have higher points in terms of global health status and quality of life when compared to head and neck, lung, breast and other types of cancers (p<0.05). The relationship between global health status/ quality of life and both anxiety r= -0.554, p<0.001) and depression (r= -0.556, p<0.001) found as intermediate meaningful negative correlation. In addition, positively, poor meaningful correlation found between functional scale and body weight (r=0.165, p=0.020), serum albumin level (r=0.155, p=0.028) and number of lymphocyte (r=0.146, p=0.038). In conclusion, this study shows that depression and anxiety levels, nutritional status and quality of life are affected negatively in cancer patients. Key words: Cancer, nutritional status, quality of life, anxiety, depression