ArticleCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2013
The association between malnutrition and psychological distress in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer.
Article in Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Global prevalence and moderating factors of malnutrition in colorectal cancer survivors: A meta-analysis.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026Pooled it
- The bidirectional association of malnutrition with depression and anxiety in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions to improve screening and appropriate referral of patients with cancer for psychosocial distress: systematic review.BMJ open · 2018Pooled it
- Impact of Baseline Nutrition and Exercise Status on Toxicity and Outcomes in Phase I and II Oncology Clinical Trial Participants.The oncologist · 2020Trial
- A machine learning model for distinguishing gastric cancer from intestinal metaplasia in patients with psychological symptoms.Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2026Article
- Interleukin-6, anxiety, and pre-treatment malnutrition in locally advanced head and neck cancer: a psychoneuroimmunological analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Oral health-related quality of life in Tunisian patients following radiotherapy for head and neck tumors: a cross-sectional study.The Pan African medical journal · 2025Observational
- Article
- The association between malnutrition risk and revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) scores in an adult outpatient oncology population: a cross-sectional study.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2024Article
- Observational
- Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (DM-PTB): A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of general medicine · 2023Article
- Article
- The psychological health of patients diagnosed with cancer in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic: A single center study.Psycho-oncology · 2022Article
- Relationship between malnutrition and the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in hospitalized cancer patients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022Article
- Prevalence and relationship of malnutrition and distress in patients with Cancer using questionnaires.BMC cancer · 2018Article
- Partnering with families to promote nutrition in cancer care: feasibility and acceptability of the PIcNIC intervention.BMC palliative care · 2018Article
- Reported distress in patients living with advanced cancer: changes pre-post interdisciplinary palliative rehabilitation.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2017Article
- Nutrition and Aging: a Practicing Oncologist's Perspective.Current oncology reports · 2017Review
- Guiding Lay Navigation in Geriatric Patients With Cancer Using a Distress Assessment Tool.Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN · 2016Article
- Interventions to improve screening and appropriate referral of patients with cancer for distress: systematic review protocol.BMJ open · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMalnutrition and psychological distress are often seen in patients with head-and-neck cancer, but little is known about the interrelationships between those two symptoms. The present study examined the relationship between malnutrition and psychological distress in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer.
methodsUsing the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, 99 patients with advanced-stage head-and-neck cancer were screened for nutrition status. The patients were also screened for psychosocial distress (using the Distress Thermometer) and for psychosocial issues (using the Problem Checklist). Any relationship between malnutrition and psychosocial distress was determined by regression and correlation analysis. We also used t-tests to compare distress levels for patients with and without specific nutrition-related symptoms.
resultsThe study group included 80 men and 19 women [mean age: 58.4 ± 10.9 years (range: 23-85 years)]. The correlation between poorer nutrition status and level of psychological distress was significant r = 0.37 (p < 0.001). Specifically, reduced food intake and symptoms were both positively associated with distress: r = 0.27 and r = 0.29 respectively, both significant at p < 0.01. After controlling for the effects of psychosocial problems and pain, nutrition status remained a significant predictor of distress, explaining 3.8% of the variance in the distress scores of the patients (p < 0.05).
conclusionsMalnutrition and symptoms were strongly related to distress in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer. Our results suggest the need for further research into the complex relationship between nutrition status and distress and into the management of both nutrition and distress in cancer care.
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