Aims: Cancer-related malnutrition prevalence has been reported in Victoria four times since 2012. Less is known about the prevalence (and risk) of cancer-related sarcopenia within the Australian context. Malnutrition and sarcopenia are both independently associated with adverse outcomes in people with cancer, and early identification is essential. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia risk within the Victorian adult cancer population.
Methods: A multi-site point prevalence study was conducted across Victorian acute health services in July 2022. Adults with cancer receiving ambulatory radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, and multi-day stay inpatients were included. Malnutrition risk was assessed using the Malnutrition Screening Tool and sarcopenia risk was assessed using the SARC-F.
Results: A total of 21 health services (26 sites) recruited 1663 adult oncology patients into the study (n=264 inpatients, 16%). Thirty-six percent of all patients were at risk of malnutrition with prevalence highest in inpatients (64%) compared to chemotherapy (33%) and radiotherapy (27%) ambulatory patients. Nineteen percent of all patients were at risk of sarcopenia with prevalence highest in inpatients (40%) compared to chemotherapy (15%) and radiotherapy (15%) ambulatory patients. Ten percent of all patients were at risk of both malnutrition and sarcopenia, and of those not at risk of malnutrition, 144 patients (14%) were at risk of sarcopenia.
Conclusions: Malnutrition and sarcopenia risk are highly prevalent in adult oncology patients, especially in multi-day stay inpatients. This study demonstrates the importance of a clinical model that includes a systematised malnutrition and sarcopenia risk screening program to facilitate appropriate nutrition (and other multi-modal) assessments and interventions.