Zoekresultaten

Malnutrition risk and frailty in head and neck cancer patients

PURPOSE: Both malnutrition and frailty are associated with adverse treatment outcomes. Malnutrition (risk) and frailty are each commonly present in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). However, their coexistence and association is unknown. Main goal of this study is to determine the coexistence of, and the association between malnutrition risk and frailty in patients with HNC.METHODS: In this retrospective analysis on prospectively collected data, newly diagnosed patients with HNC, enrolled in the OncoLifeS databiobank were included. The Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Short Form (PG-SGA SF) was used to assess malnutrition risk. The Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI) was used to assess frailty status. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, taking into account several patient- and tumor-related factors.RESULTS: In total, 197 patients were included. Seventy-six patients (39%) had a medium or high malnutrition risk and 71 patients (36%) were frail. In 38 patients (19%), malnutrition risk coexisted with frailty. Patients with medium and high malnutrition risk were, respectively, 4.0 (95% CI 1.5-11.2) and 13.4 (95% CI 4.0-48.7) times more likely to be frail, compared to patients with low malnutrition risk. In turn, frail patients were 6.4 times (95% CI 2.6-14.9) more likely to have malnutrition risk compared to non-frail patients.CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition risk and frailty frequently coexist but not fully overlap in newly diagnosed patients with HNC. Therefore, screening for both conditions is recommended.

Self-completion of the patient-generated subjective global assessment short form is feasible and is associated with increased awareness on malnutrition risk in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess feasibility of self-completion of the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Short Form (PG-SGA SF) by head and neck cancer patients, and to assess self-reported increased awareness regarding malnutrition risk after self-completion. METHODS: Participants were randomized to complete the PG-SGA SF by paper or app. Feasibility was assessed by time needed to complete the PG-SGA SF, perceived difficulty, and help needed during completion. Participants were asked if they knew what malnutrition was (yes/no) and if they could define "malnutrition." They were also asked 9 questions on whether they perceived increased awareness of malnutrition risk after having completed the PG-SGA SF and 2 on their intention to change lifestyle habits. RESULTS: Of all participants (n = 59; 65.9 +/- 12.6 years; 73% male), 55% completed the PG-SGA SF paper version and 46% the Pt-Global app. Median time needed for self-completion of the PG-SGA SF was 2 minutes 41 seconds (interquartile range: 1 minute 49 seconds-3 minutes 50 seconds). Forty-eight percent needed help with completion, indicating acceptable feasibility. Participants who completed the Pt-Global app needed help significantly more often (66%; 21/32) than those who completed the PG-SGA SF paper version (26%; 7/27) (P = 0.005). All difficulty scores were excellent. For 7/9 questions on malnutrition risk awareness, >50% of the participants answered positively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that self-completion of the PG-SGA SF by head and neck cancer patients is feasible and that awareness regarding malnutrition risk may increase after completing the PG-SGA SF.

Feasibility of a supervised and home-based tailored exercise intervention in head and neck cancer patients during chemoradiotherapy

Objective: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with high toxicity that adversely affects physical functioning, body composition, fatigue, quality of life and treatment outcomes. Exercise interventions during treatment might counteract these negative effects. We therefore assessed the feasibility of an exercise programme for HNC patients during CRT. Methods: Forty patients were offered a tailored 10-week endurance and resistance training with supervised and home-based sessions. Feasibility endpoints were (1) adherence (main outcome): ≥60% attendance; (2) recruitment: ≥30%; (3) retention rate: ≥85% and (4) compliance rate: ≥60%. Physical performance, muscle strength, body composition, quality of life and fatigue were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Overall adherence was 54%. The recruitment rate was 36%, and the retention rate was 65%. Compliance to the supervised intervention protocol was 66%. Statistically significant decreases were found in mean grip strength, fat-free mass and clinically relevant deteriorations on several domains of quality of life, and fatigue subscales were found. Conclusion: We conclude that this exercise programme for HNC patients during CRT in its current form is feasible for only a minority of patients. We suggest adaptations to improve adherence and retention rates for a definitive multicentre trial. Trial registration: This study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR7305), 6 June 2018, retrospectively registered.

Demographic, clinical, lifestyle-related, and social-cognitive correlates of physical activity in head and neck cancer survivors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to identify demographic, clinical, lifestyle-related, and social-cognitive correlates of physical activity (PA) intention and behavior in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB).METHODS: Data from two cross-sectional studies on correlates of PA in HNC survivors were pooled. Both studies used self-reports to assess PA and social-cognitive correlates. Potential correlates were collected via self-report or medical records. Univariable and multivariable multilevel linear mixed-effects models were built to identify correlates of PA intention and PA behavior (Z scores). Structural equation model analyses were conducted to study the full TPB model in one analysis, taking into account relevant covariates.RESULTS: In total, 416 HNC survivors were surveyed. Their mean (SD) age was 66.6 (9.4) years; 64% were men, and 78% were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. The structural equation model showed that PA intention was significantly higher in HNC survivors with a history of exercising, who had a more positive attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Patients with higher PA intention, higher PBC, a lower age, and without unintentional weight loss or comorbidities had higher PA behavior. The model explained 22.9% of the variance in PA intention and 16.1% of the variance in PA behavior.CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant pathways of the TPB model, the large proportion variance in PA intention and behavior remaining unexplained suggests the need for better PA behavior (change) models to guide the development of PA promotion programs, particularly for the elderly. Such programs should be tailored to comorbidities and nutritional status.

Een trainings- en voedingsinterventie tijdens radiotherapie bij hoofd-halskanker lijkt haalbaar [Bespreking van: Sandmael JA, Bye A, Solheim TS, Stene GB, Thorsen L, Kaasa S, Lund JÅ, Oldervoll LM. (2017) Feasibility and preliminary effects of resistance training and nutritional supplements during versus after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer]

Handreiking voor arbeidsdeskundigen: late gevolgen van kanker(behandelingen) en werk

Deze handreiking is het resultaat van het onderzoek ‘Werken met de late gevolgen van kanker. Kennis en handelingsperspectieven voor arbeidsdeskundigen wanneer een kankerbehandeling uit het verleden nú problemen geeft in het werk’. Er is een gelijknamig cahier beschikbaar met meer informatie over de achtergrond en inzichten vanuit dit onderzoek. Het cahier biedt ook uitgebreidere kennis en voorbeelden over late gevolgen van kanker(behandelingen) en werk.