Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment nutritional support intervention for gastrointestinal tumor radiotherapy: Impact on nutrition and quality of life

Lin Hui; Ying-Ying Zhang; Xiao-Dan Hu

doi:10.4240/wjgs.v15.i12.2719

Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment nutritional support intervention for gastrointestinal tumor radiotherapy: Impact on nutrition and quality of life

World J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Dec 27;15(12):2719-2726. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i12.2719.

Authors

Lin Hui¹, Ying-Ying Zhang², Xiao-Dan Hu³

Affiliations

¹ Head, Neck and Chest Radiotherapy Department 1, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China.
² Department of Gastroenterology, The People's Hospital of Danyang, Danyang 212300, Jiangsu Province, China.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China. 258636904@qq.com.

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal tumors are a major cause of cancer-related deaths and have become a major public health problem. This study aims to provide a scientific basis for improving clinical treatment effects, quality of life, and prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

Aim: To explore the clinical effect of the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment (MDT) nutrition intervention model on patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

Methods: This was a case control study which included patients with gastrointestinal tumors who received radiotherapy at the Department of Oncology between January 2021 and January 2023. Using a random number table, 120 patients were randomly divided into MDT and control groups with 60 patients in each group. To analyze the effect of MDT on the nutritional status and quality of life of the patients, the nutritional status and quality of life scores of the patients were measured before and after the treatment.

Results: Albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF), hemoglobin (Hb), and total protein (TP) levels significantly decreased after the treatment. The control group had significantly lower ALB, TRF, Hb, and TP levels than the MDT group, and the differences in these levels between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the MDT group had significantly more well-nourished patients than the control group (P < 0.05). The quality of life total score, somatic functioning, role functioning, and emotional functioning were higher in the MDT group than in the control group. By contrast, pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting scores were lower in the MDT group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: MDT nutritional intervention model effectively improves the nutritional status and quality of life of the patients. The study provides a rigorous theoretical basis for improving the prognosis of cancer patients. In the future, we intend to provide additional treatment methods for improving the quality of life of patients with cancer.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal tumor; Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment intervention; Nutrition; Nutritional support; Quality of life; Radiotherapy.