Changes in nutritional status and associations with physical and clinical outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia patients during intensive chemotherapy

Rianne van Lieshout*, Lidwine W Tick, Erik A M Beckers, Willemijn Biesbroek, Jeanne P Dieleman, Myrthe Dijkstra, Wanda Groenesteijn, Harry R Koene, Suzanne Kranenburg, Debbie van der Lee, Liesbeth van der Put-van den Berg, Nicky Rademakers, Josien C Regelink, Claudia J van Tilborg, Peter E Westerweel, Sandra de Zeeuw, Harry C Schouten, Sandra Beijer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) often receive medical nutrition therapy (MNT) during intensive remission-induction treatment. Since little is known about changes in nutritional status, specifically body composition, in this patient population, these changes and their associations with physical and clinical outcomes were assessed. Subjects/Methods: In this multicenter prospective observational study, newly diagnosed AML/MDS patients who received intensive remission-induction chemotherapy, routine dietary counseling by a dietician and MNT immediately upon inadequate nutritional intake, were included. At treatment initiation and discharge, nutritional status, including Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA)-scores and body composition, physical outcomes and fatigue were assessed. Associations of nutritional status/body composition with physical outcomes, fatigue, fever duration, number of complications, time to neutrophil engraftment and hospital length of stay (LOS) (collected from medical records) were examined using multiple regression analysis. Results: In >91% of the 126 AML/MDS patients included, nutritional intake was adequate, with 61% receiving MNT. Nevertheless, body weight decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and mainly consisted of a loss of muscle/fat-free mass (FFM) (p < 0.001), while fat mass (FM) remained unchanged (p-value range = 0.71–0.77). Body weight and waist circumference showed significant negative associations with fever duration and/or number of complications. Significant positive associations were found between mid-upper arm muscle circumference (MUAMC) and physical functioning and between PG-SGA-scores and fatigue. Body weight and MUAMC were also negatively associated with LOS. Conclusion: Despite MNT in AML/MDS patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy, muscle/FFM decreased while FM remained unchanged. Maintenance of nutritional status was associated with improved physical and clinical outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1082-1094
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume78
Issue number12
Early online date10 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

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