Association between Malnutrition and Depression in Patients with Cancer: The Importance of Nutritional Status Evaluation in Cancer Care

Daniele Nucci, Vincenza Gianfredi (), Pietro Ferrara, Omar Enzo Santangelo, Beatrice Varotto, Alessandra Feltrin, Antonella Galiano and Mariateresa Nardi ()
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Daniele Nucci: Nutritional Support Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
Vincenza Gianfredi: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Pietro Ferrara: Center for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
Omar Enzo Santangelo: Regional Health Care and Social Agency of Lodi, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Lodi (ASST Lodi), 26900 Lodi, Italy
Beatrice Varotto: Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, 35128 Padua, Italy
Alessandra Feltrin: Hospital Psychology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
Antonella Galiano: Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
Mariateresa Nardi: Nutritional Support Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Cancer patients are at risk of several comorbid conditions, including nutritional issues and mental health illnesses. The objective of the current study was to estimate the prevalence, upon hospital admission, of depression and malnutrition among adults with cancer. A retrospective chart review was conducted using health information collected as part of routine assistance. Nutritional status was measured through structured tools, including body mass index (BMI), Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) 2002, and dietary intake needs. Depression was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Cancer site, disease stage, length of hospitalization, age, and sex were also considered. Multivariate analyses were used to investigate the association between malnutrition and depression. In summary, our study reveals that malnutrition increases the risk of depression among cancer patients. The findings can also be used in clinical oncology for the implementation of appropriate prevention and treatment interventions in order to reduce the extent of depression and thus improve cancer patients’ quality of life and survival rate.

Keywords: depression; neoplasm; malnutrition; hospital anxiety and depression scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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