Objective: Systemic inflammatory responses in cancer patients are important factors for nutrition and prognosis. This study evaluates the association between tooth loss, occlusal status, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI).
Methods: A total of 93 patients with gastric cancer were included. These parameters were investigated the following: stage, body mass index (BMI), total lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), PNI, and albumin (ALB). Patients were divided into three groups by Eichner classification (group A had contact in four support zones; group B had in one to three zones or in anterior region; and group C had no contact). PNI assumed 40 or less undernutrition. Multiple regression analysis was performed (PNI, dependent variable; Eichner index, main independent variable), using four independent variables (sex, age, BMI, and CRP) as adjustment factors.
Results: The mean ± SD PNI in groups A, B, and C was 43.0 ± 4.7, 41.7 ± 5.2, and 36.7 ± 7.7, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the number of teeth, both ALB, and PNI. ALB and PNI differed significantly between groups A and C (ALB, p = .0003; PNI, p = .005).
Conclusion: We recommend a preoperative dental evaluation for assessing the nutritional status of patients with gastric cancer.
Keywords: occlusal status; postoperative infection; prognostic nutritional index; tooth loss.
© 2019 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.