An evaluation of nutritional impact symptoms and their association with reduced dietary intake in patients with solid tumors at tertiary care hospitals: a multicenter, cross-sectional study from Palestine

Nutritional impact symptoms (NISs) are proposed to be a key indicator of decreased dietary intake in patients with solid cancer. Cancer patients frequently experience NIS from the disease itself and from disease treatment side effects that impact oral and gastrointestinal health. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between NIS and dietary intake among cancer patients in the Nablus district, one of the largest districts in Palestine. This study also sought to identify the types of treatment and other factors related to dietary intake for solid cancer patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 15, 2021, and October 15, 2022. The convenience sampling technique was used to recruit participants from two primary hospital campuses for cancer treatment in the entire region of Nablus Governorate in northern Palestine. To assess the patients, structured questionnaires completed by interviewers during face-to-face interviews with patients were used. The NIS was assessed using a checklist developed based on a literature review and clinical experience. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the correlations between sociodemographic variables and clinical variables and between the NIS and dietary intake. Multiple binary logistic regression analyses were also performed to determine the most influential variables, sociodemographic, clinical, and NIS, on dietary intake.

Data were collected from 290 patients with solid malignancies. The mean age of the participants was 55.04 ± 12.76 years. Multiple binary logistic regressions revealed that dry mouth (odds ratio (OR) = 3.742; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.800–7.780; p < 0.001), constipation (OR = 2.707; 95% CI = 1.113–6.581; p = 0.028), taste alteration (OR = 3.620; 95% CI = 1.752–7.481; p = 0.001), and feeling fullness (OR = 8.879; 95% CI = 2.982–26.441; p < 0.001) were significantly related to decreased dietary intake. Biological and hormonal treatments had an inverse association with dietary intake (OR = 0.372; 95% CI = 0.177–0.782; p = 0.009 and OR = 0.383; 95% CI = 0.168–0.874; p = 0.023, respectively).

This study revealed that many solid cancer patients have reduced food intake due to NIS, such as dry mouth and taste changes. These patients may be at risk of malnutrition. Healthcare professionals should consider these NISs to improve dietary plans and decide whether extra feeding support is needed. The results obtained indicate the need for further research focused on removing limitations in food consumption as an effect of treatment and appropriate nutritional strategies to prevent patient malnutrition.