Evaluation of refeeding hypophosphatemia frequency, risk factors, and nutritional status during stem cell transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancy.

BACKGROUND

Refeeding Hypophosphatemia (RH) occurs with feeding after an extended period of not feeding. Hematological Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is one of the effective methods for hematologic malignancy. Nutritional disorders are frequently observed in hematologic malignancies due to the disease's pathology and the treatment's effect. The study aims to determine the influencing factors by determining the frequency of RH in patients treated with HSCT.

METHODS

The study was conducted prospectively and randomly with 50 patients treated with HSCT for the first time. The study followed patients for 22 days, seven days before, and 14 days after. During the follow-up, data such as Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), weight changes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mucositis, infection and Graft Versus Host Disease development, need for intensive care, and 12-month mortality were recorded. RH states were evaluated during treatment.

RESULTS

RH developed in 78% of patients treated with HSCT. Pre-transplantation PGSGA score, frequency of vomiting, and development of infection were higher in patients with RH (p < 0.05). The patients had a mean weight loss of 2.9% after transplantation. Pre-transplantation, 88% of patients were well-nourished (PGSGA 0-3), post-transplantation, 70% of patients were moderately undernourished (PGSGA 4-8), and 30% were severely malnourished (PGSGA ≥ 9). While total protein and albumin decreased after transplantation, CRP increased (p < 0.05). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, infection (95% CI: 1.375-61.379, p = 0.022) and pre-transplant PGSGA (95% CI: 1.035-45.454, p = 0.046) independently affect RH development.

CONCLUSIONS

RH was detected at a high rate in patients treated with HSCT. Elevated risk of malnutrition before transplantation, frequency of vomiting, and development of infection were determined as factors affecting RH development.