The Relationship Between Nutritional Status, Performance Status, and Survival Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the nutritional and performance status of Pancreatic Cancer (PanCa) patients and to determine the relationship between these parameters and their survival time. Material and Methods: Ninety-six PanCa patients [59.6% F, 61.4% M; mean age: 60.7 (min:28, max:80) years] were followed up for 6-24 months. The Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Eastern Comparative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale were performed. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), calf circumference (CC) and triceps skin fold thickness (TSF)], hand grip strength (HGS) were recorded. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: Malnutrition was observed in 85.5% (n = 82) and 54.2% of all patients had poor performance status. A positive correlation was observed between malnutrition and ECOG scale of the patients (P < .01). Antropometric measurements for women and men, respectively, were 34.4 +/- 3.03-34.6 +/- 3.43 cm for CC; 26.9 +/- 3.47-26.05 +/- 3.37 cm for MUAC; 20.5 +/- 6.3-13.02 +/- 7.7 mm for TSF; - 31.02 +/- 7.64-20.13 +/- 6.04 kg for HGS. Survival time of patients with SGA-A and B was 38.0 +/- 6.6 months and of those with SGA-C was 12.0 +/- 3.1 months (P = .000). Conclusion: Malnutrition negatively affected both performance status and survival time among PanCa patients.