Assessment of Nutritional Status and Malnutrition Risk at Diagnosis and Over a 6-Month Treatment Period in Pediatric Oncology Patients With Hematologic Malignancies and Solid Tumors

In total, 74 pediatric oncology patients with hematologic malignancies (n=56) or solid tumors (n=18) and a median age of 78.5 months were included in this prospective study. The aims were to assess malnutrition risks and nutritional status over a 6-month treatment period measured at regular intervals. The rate of patients with high risk for malnutrition at diagnosis was 28.4% by Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth tool and 36.5% by Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores at diagnosis showed 12.3% undernutrition (<-2 SD) and 6.8% overnutrition (>2 SD), which changed to 6.7% and 11.1% at the sixth month, respectively. Malnutrition (BMI<5th age percentile) was detected in 13.7% at diagnosis. Despite an initial deterioration noted in BMI, BMI for age percentile, and z-scores at month 1 in all malignancy subgroups (at month 3 for acute lymphoblastic leukemia), the scores improved later on. There was an increase in weight from baseline in 88.2% of patients over 6 months. This study revealed a decrease in the prevalence of undernutrition and malnutrition over a 6-month treatment period with improved anthropometrics despite an initial deterioration in all malignancy subgroups and even in patients with high risk for malnutrition at baseline screening. Solid tumors and acute lymphoblastic leukemia seem to be associated with higher likelihood of undernutrition and overnutrition, respectively, during treatment.