Malnutrition and body composition predict poor quality of life and reduced survival in ambulatory oncology patients receiving chemotherapy: a cross sectional study of 1015 patients

Univariate and multivariate analyses for overall survival were conducted using cox proportional hazards model; hazards ratios (HR) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were obtained. 1021 patients with solid tumours participated in the study, 56 % were male with a median age of 64 years [IQR 55–71]. WL > 5 %, CC, SMI and MA were associated with reduced survival, however, controlling for factors known to predict survival (age, gender, performance status, cancer type, stage and smoking status), only MA remained significant. Food based strategies to enhance intake are preferred by cancer patients over ONS and more emphasis should therefore be placed on dietary counselling, high protein high calorie diets and exercise to improve patients’ nutritional status and clinical outcomes. 1.