SynthesisBMC cancer2025
Global epidemiological characteristics of malnutrition in cancer patients: a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The global state of GLIM criteria in oncology: a bibliometric analysis of research trends (2019-2025).Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Risk prediction models for malnutrition in patients with cancer: a systematic review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- From malnutrition to multimodal care: a bibliometric and knowledge mapping analysis of frailty research in cancer.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Food is medicine: an opportunity to transform nutrition care in oncology.Nature medicine · 2026Article
- Risk of cardiac dysfunction in patients receiving anthracyclines across breast cancer and hematologic malignancies: a single-center retrospective cohort study in Japan.Heart and vessels · 2026Article
- [Malnutrition in lung cancer patients : Influence of preoperative nutritional status on the postoperative outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after curative surgery].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Effects of Malnutrition on In-Hospital and Discharge Outcomes Among Young Adults Hospitalized with Gastrointestinal Cancers: National Estimates from the United States.Journal of gastrointestinal cancer · 2026Article
- Nutritional management practices and perspectives of Radiation Oncologists: outcomes of an International Atomic Energy Agency survey.Clinical and translational radiation oncology · 2026Article
- Prevalence of Malnutrition, Frailty, and Cachexia Across Different Cancer Subtypes: Distribution by Age (<65 and ≥65).Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
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- Article
- Preoperative nutrition in colorectal cancer surgery: mini review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Article
- Interleukin-6, anxiety, and pre-treatment malnutrition in locally advanced head and neck cancer: a psychoneuroimmunological analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Trends and disparities in neoplasm-related mortality with death-certificate-documented protein-energy malnutrition in the United States, 1999-2024: a CDC WONDER multiple cause of death study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Dietitian-led individualized pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is associated with favorable nutritional and immune-inflammatory profiles in pancreatic cancer: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Role of nutritional status in predicting quality of life outcomes in patients with solid malignancies: an experience from a developing country.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- Risk of Malnutrition in Digestive System Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancers · 2025Review
- Undernutrition and associated factors among adult cancer patients in northwest Ethiopia: a global leadership initiative on malnutrition-based approach.BMC cancer · 2025Article
- Nutritional Status Assessment Using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in Individuals with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy Regimens.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND &
aimsThe epidemiological characteristics of malnutrition in cancer patients remain unclear. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, published in 2019, were established to compare the prevalence of malnutrition globally, drive the development of standardized care practices, and promote improved clinical outcomes. This study aimed to systematically assess the prevalence and related factors of malnutrition in cancer patients based on the GLIM criteria, and to evaluate its association with clinical outcomes.
methodsTwo authors independently searched PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Embase up to July 20, 2024. Eligible studies were observational (cross-sectional or cohort), involved adult cancer patients, and assessed nutritional status using the GLIM criteria. Studies were required to report at least one of the following outcomes: prevalence of malnutrition, associated factors, or relevant clinical outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² and Q tests. A random-effects model was used when significant heterogeneity was present (I²>50%, P < 0.05); otherwise, a fixed-effects model was applied. PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251053345.
resultsA total of 20 cross-sectional studies and 45 cohort studies were included, all of which reported the prevalence of malnutrition and together covered over 30,000 cancer patients. Three studies examined factors influencing malnutrition. Nine studies evaluated its impact on overall survival (OS), while three assessed its effect on postoperative complications. Overall, the prevalence of malnutrition was 41% (95% CI: 36-45%), with moderate malnutrition at 19% (95% CI: 16-23%) and severe malnutrition at 20% (95% CI: 17-23%). The main factors influencing malnutrition in cancer patients were tumor-related symptoms. Malnutrition in cancer patients is significantly associated with OS (HR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.56-2.67). Specifically, the risk is significantly increased in patients with moderate malnutrition (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07-1.72), and even higher in those with severe malnutrition (HR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.55-2.39). Additionally, malnutrition in cancer patients is also significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.41-2.55).
conclusionMalnutrition prevalence is high among cancer patients, primarily due to tumor-related symptoms. It significantly increases the risk of poor clinical outcomes, with a more pronounced effect in patients suffering from severe malnutrition.
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