Effects of nutritional and psychological status of the patients with advanced stomach cancer on physical performance status

Abstract

Goals of the work: The aim of this study was to assess the associations between coping mode, nutritional status, and psychological status and performance status of the patients with advanced stomach cancer.

Materials and methods: An epidemiological survey was conducted among 233 patients with advanced stomach cancer in Fujian, China. In-person interviews were performed for the participants with respect to information of psychological status prior to chemotherapy, nutritional status during chemotherapy, and physical performance status after chemotherapy.

Main results: Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the level of hemoglobin (HB), level of daily calorie intake, score of Depression Status Inventory (DSI), and score of confrontation subscale of Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire had a significant influence on performance status (P < 0.05). The relative risks (95% confidence interval) were 2.06 (1.12-3.79) for low level of hemoglobin versus normal level of hemoglobin, 1.16 (1.02-1.32) for low level of daily calorie intake versus normal level of daily calorie intake, 5.89 (2.00-17.31) for DSI score > or =40 versus DSI score <40, and 3.17 (1.73-5.78) for low score of confrontation versus high score of confrontation, respectively.

Conclusions: Depression, low score of "Confrontation", low levels of HB, and low level of daily calorie intake may be the risk factors of poor performance status of the patients with advanced stomach cancer.