Tình trạng dinh dưỡng của người bệnh ung thư buồng trứng tại Bệnh viện K năm 2024–2025

Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, often diagnosed at advanced stages, which significantly complicates treatment and prognosis. A critical yet frequently overlooked aspect of managing this patient population is their nutritional status. Patients with ovarian cancer are highly susceptible to malnutrition, which can severely impact their physical resilience, response to therapy, and overall quality of life. Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of nutritional deficiencies is therefore paramount for developing effective supportive care strategies. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of ovarian cancer patients at a major cancer hospital in Vietnam during 2024-2025, providing crucial data to inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.

Oncologists, nutritionists, nurses, public health researchers, and healthcare practitioners involved in the care and management of cancer patients, particularly those with gynecological cancers.

This cross-sectional descriptive study investigated the nutritional status of 121 ovarian cancer patients at K Hospital between July 2024 and March 2025, prior to surgery. The objective was to comprehensively evaluate their nutritional profiles and identify common challenges. Assessments utilized Body Mass Index (BMI), Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), hemoglobin levels, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), alongside a detailed inquiry into symptoms affecting dietary intake. The findings revealed a significant burden of nutritional issues. According to BMI, 9.1% of patients were malnourished, while 11.6% were overweight or obese. A more granular assessment with PG-SGA indicated that 43.8% were at risk of mild to moderate malnutrition, and an additional 9.1% faced severe malnutrition. Anemia was prevalent in 38% of patients. Furthermore, a substantial proportion experienced debilitating symptoms impacting their ability to eat, including fatigue (42.1%), anorexia (35.5%), early satiety (32.2%), and dry mouth (24.8%). Significant weight loss was also observed, with 9.9% losing 5-10% body weight within one month and 1.7% losing 10% or more. Over a six-month period, these figures rose to 15.7% and 6.6% respectively. These results underscore that a considerable number of ovarian cancer patients present with nutritional problems like anemia, weight loss, and general malnutrition even before surgical intervention. The study highlights the urgent need for early nutritional screening and targeted dietary interventions as an integral part of comprehensive cancer care. Such proactive nutritional support is vital to improve patient physical condition, enhance their response to treatment, and ultimately elevate their quality of life. These findings advocate for strengthened collaboration between clinical and nutrition departments to optimize care for this vulnerable patient population.