Oesophageal cancer: The effect of early nutrition support on clinical outcomes

• Published in: Clinical nutrition ESPEN 2021-04, Vol.42, p.117-123
• Main Authors: Davies, S.J., West, M.A., Rahman, S.A., Underwood, T.J., Marino, L.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophagectomy; Hand Strength; Handgrip strength; Humans; Nutrition support; Nutritional Support; Prehabilitation; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 2405-4577; 2405-4577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.02.006

Malnutrition is prevalent in oesophageal cancer. Evidence for the use of nutrition support and prehabilitation in this cohort is variable. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of early nutrition support and functional measures of nutritional status on post-operative outcomes in adult patients with oesophageal cancer. Retrospective review of adults with oesophageal cancer undergoing oesophagectomy (n = 151). Early nutrition support was defined as: oral or enteral nutrition supplementation during neoadjuvant treatment. Late nutrition support defined as: oral or enteral nutrition supplementation prescribed post-operatively. Nutrition outcome measures were; percentage weight loss from 3 to 6 months prior to diagnosis, peri- and post-operatively, and pre-operative assessment of handgrip-strength (HGS). Pre-operative weight loss ≥10% was a significant predictor of mortality at 1 year (OR 2.84, 95%CI 1.03–7.83, p = 0.04) independent of tumour stage, adjuvant treatment, age and gender. Adults prescribed early nutrition support during neoadjuvant treatment experienced less weight loss at 12-months post-oesophagectomy compared to adults prescribed late oral nutrition support (p=