Risk of Malnutrition and Its Effects on the Quality of Life of Hospitalized Cancer Patients

Aim:Malnutrition is one of the most common clinical problems in cancer patients. Its frequency increases in hospitalized cancer patients. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the frequency of malnutrition and its effect on quality of life (QOL) in hospitalized cancer patients.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, Nutrition Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002) and European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QLQ C30 scales were completed for patients with cancer diagnosed in the medical oncology service. The relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters, malnutrition risk and QOL was analyzed by statistical methods.Results:One-hundred thirteen patients were included in the study. According to the results of NRS-2002, 42.5% (n=48) patients were at risk of malnutrition. There was no difference between the groups in terms of gender and age. When the EORTC-QLQ C30 scale scores were compared, the risk of malnutrition had no effect on the overall health score (p=0.679). Physical function and role function scores were significantly lower in those at risk of malnutrition (worse QOL). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of other functional scales. When univariate logistic regression (LR) was applied to the factors affecting better general health score, only hemoglobin level was found to be a significant factor. Therefore, multivariate LR was not done.Conclusion:Malnutrition risk assessment should be performed routinely in every hospitalized cancer patient. Early nutritional support should be given to patients at risk. It was observed that patients with malnutrition risk had worse QOL compared to the EORTC-QLQ C30 scale

Factors of Affecting Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients

Aim:Sleep disorders are one of the most common problems in patients with malignancy and they severely decrease the quality of life. We sought to investigate the frequency of sleep disturbances, its quantity, quality and possible correlation with related factors such as depression and anxiety.Materials and Methods:150 patients participated and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate the sleep quality. It is a self-administered questionnaire and standardized measure of sleep quality. Total score of ≥5 shows that the quality of sleep is remarkably bad. Also a self-report measure of depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and a self-report measure of anxiety, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used.Results:Of the 150 patients, 74.0% has bad sleep quality (score >5 ). Mean PSQI total score was 7.34 (min 0-max 20). No differences were found between PSQI mean scores in terms of gender, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CHT), having chronic disease or having metastatic disease. NSAIDs and opioids were significantly correlated with PSQI (p<0.001). PSQI total scores are strongly associated with the BDI score (r=.424, p<0.001) and BAI score (r=.417, p<0.001).Conclusion:We found a high prevalence rate of bad sleep quality at 74%. Effective sleep treatment and psychological support should be provided in oncology clinics

Anaphylaxis from intraperitoneal infusion of cisplatin - A case report

Anaphylactic reactions to platinum compounds and paclitaxel are well-recognized complications during their systemic administration. Although there have been reports describing anaphylaxis during intravesical instillation of chemotherapeutic agents, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no hypersensitivity reactions after intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapeutic drugs has been reported in the English literature. The authors report an unusual case of anaphylaxis occurring in a 33-year-old woman who has been treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin for ovarian cancer. She developed a hypersensitivity reaction during her ninth cycle of chemotherapy, immediately after institution of intraperitoneal infusion of cisplatin. it is important to be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis during chemotherapy administration other than the systemic route go that appropriate premedication or effective treatment can be promptly instituted