Objective and Subjective Appetite Assessment in Patients with Gynecological Cancer: A Pre- and Post-Operative Pilot Study

Iro-Spyridoula Gounitsioti, Dimitrios Poulimeneas, Maria G. Grammatikopoulou (), Charalambos Kotzamanidis, Konstantinos Gkiouras, Meletios P. Nigdelis, Dimitrios Tsolakidis, Alexios Papanikolaou, Basil C. Tarlatzis, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Maria Tsigga and Dimitrios G. Goulis ()
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Iro-Spyridoula Gounitsioti: Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Alexander Campus, International Hellenic University, Sindos, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios Poulimeneas: Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Alexander Campus, International Hellenic University, Sindos, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria G. Grammatikopoulou: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University General Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
Charalambos Kotzamanidis: Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DEMETER, Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Thermi Campus, GR-57001 Thermi, Greece
Konstantinos Gkiouras: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University General Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
Meletios P. Nigdelis: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-56429 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios Tsolakidis: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-56429 Thessaloniki, Greece
Alexios Papanikolaou: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hippokration General Hospital, 49 Konstantinoupoleos Str., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
Basil C. Tarlatzis: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-56429 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios P. Bogdanos: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University General Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
Maria Tsigga: Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Alexander Campus, International Hellenic University, Sindos, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios G. Goulis: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-56429 Thessaloniki, Greece

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-9

Abstract: Although appetite and its disorders have been implicated in disease progression and outcomes, ghrelin concentrations, an objective appetite measure, are rarely assessed in patients with gynecological malignancies. The present study aimed to assess changes in post-operative versus pre-operative appetite levels in patients with gynecological cancers scheduled for tumor removal surgery (N = 53). Acylated ghrelin concentrations were assessed as an objective appetite proxy, whereas the Council of Nutrition appetite questionnaire (CNAQ) was employed as a subjective appetite measure. Ghrelin concentrations were increased post-operatively (median: 12.1 pg/mL, IQR: 0.67 to 23.5, p -value = 0.001) but the perceived appetite of patients (CNAQ) remained unchanged (median: −1, IQR: −3 to 1). Tumor removal surgery decreased all anthropometric indices (body weight, body mass index, waist and hips circumferences, triceps skinfolds, body fat, fat mass and fat mass index, p -value ≤ 0.001 for all) and doubled the risk of malnutrition among patients. No difference was recorded in the change in participants’ objective and subjective appetite when they were classified according to the tumor type. No correlation was observed between ghrelin concentrations and CNAQ score pre-operatively (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = −0.181, p -value = 0.298) or post-operatively (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = 0.071, p -value = 0.684). The observed post-operative rise in ghrelin concentrations is associated with body weight loss and consists of a possible defense mechanism of the human body, aiming to prolong survival.

Keywords: ovarian cancer; endometrial cancer; vaginal cancer; gynecological malignancy; nutritional status; anorexia; nutritional screening; cancer cachexia; sarcopenia; GLIM; SGA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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