Division of Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(2):496-504. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1892157. Epub 2021 Mar 7.
One area within geriatric oncology that is understudied and undertreated is the dietary quality of older cancer survivors. Most older adults with cancer experience nutritional deficits due to their age and cancer treatment. Research has shown the impact of competing comorbidities, polypharmacy, and decline in functional and cognitive status on older adults' nutritional needs. This study sought to examine the diet quality of older female cancer survivors, and its association with inflammatory markers and physical functioning. Participants completed surveys online, by mail, or phone. Additional participant information was obtained through medical records. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, forward linear regressions were used to analyze these data. Older female cancer survivors (≥65) that had completed their initial cancer treatment in the past 5 years were recruited through cancer clinic visits and medical records. The study was conducted from November 2018 through January 2020. Self-reported physical functioning (RAND-36), diet quality (DHQ-II, HEI-2015), and BMI were obtained from surveys. Participant diagnosis, comorbidities, and inflammatory marker (c-reactive protein (CRP)) were obtained through electronic medical records; albumin was collected as a marker correlated with inflammation. The average age of participants ( = 171) was 73.6 ± 8.4 years. Mean physical functioning score was 60 ± 24 out of 100. Mean total HEI scores were 66.39 + 10.0 out of 100. Positive correlations were observed between total HEI scores and physical functioning, self-rated health, albumin, education, and income. Negative correlations were observed between physical functioning and BMI, self-rated health, albumin, and age. Regressions indicated that individuals who had higher HEI scores were more likely to report higher physical functioning ( = 0.38, < 0.001). Identifying dietary quality and markers to overall assess inflammation is pertinent to improve the long-term health of cancer survivors. The strong correlations between physical function, HEI, and albumin demonstrates the relationship albumin has with inflammation and its subtle impact it can have on older cancer survivors. Along with CRP, serum albumin should be interpreted in the context of the patient's overall health. Future larger cohort studies of older cancer survivors with longitudinal measurements are warranted.
老年肿瘤学中一个研究不足且治疗不足的领域是老年癌症幸存者的饮食质量。由于年龄和癌症治疗，大多数老年癌症患者都存在营养不足的问题。研究表明，并存的多种疾病、多种药物治疗以及功能和认知状态的下降会对老年人的营养需求产生影响。本研究旨在探讨老年女性癌症幸存者的饮食质量及其与炎症标志物和身体功能的关系。参与者通过在线、邮寄或电话完成了调查。通过病历获得了额外的参与者信息。使用描述性统计、皮尔逊相关、向前线性回归来分析这些数据。通过癌症门诊就诊和病历招募了过去 5 年内完成初始癌症治疗的年龄在 65 岁及以上的老年女性癌症幸存者。该研究于 2018 年 11 月至 2020 年 1 月进行。通过调查获得自我报告的身体功能（RAND-36）、饮食质量（DHQ-II、HEI-2015）和 BMI。通过电子病历获得参与者的诊断、合并症和炎症标志物（C 反应蛋白（CRP））；白蛋白是作为与炎症相关的标志物收集的。参与者的平均年龄（ = 171）为 73.6 ± 8.4 岁。平均身体功能评分为 100 分中的 60 ± 24 分。平均总 HEI 评分为 100 分中的 66.39 + 10.0 分。总 HEI 评分与身体功能、自我报告的健康状况、白蛋白、教育程度和收入呈正相关。身体功能与 BMI、自我报告的健康状况、白蛋白和年龄呈负相关。回归分析表明，HEI 评分较高的个体更有可能报告身体功能较高（ = 0.38， < 0.001）。确定饮食质量和标志物以全面评估炎症对于改善癌症幸存者的长期健康状况至关重要。身体功能、HEI 和白蛋白之间的强相关性表明白蛋白与炎症之间的关系及其对老年癌症幸存者的微妙影响。与 CRP 一样，血清白蛋白应结合患者的整体健康状况进行解释。需要进行更大规模的、有纵向测量的老年癌症幸存者队列研究。
