An Evaluation of Inflammatory and Nutritional Status of Breast Cancer Outpatients in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim

To assess the relationship between nutritional status and inflammatory markers of breast cancer patients, and to identify predictors of malnutrition in these patients.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 45 patients with breast cancer assessed between January and June 2018. Nutritional status was evaluated by objective and subjective methods. The inflammatory markers and inflammation-based scores evaluated were C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), CRP/albumin ratio, and Albumin/CRP ratio.

Results

A total of 45 patients were evaluated. Majority of the patients have high levels of both CRP and ESR (73.3% and 86.7% respectively). More than 70% of the patients were well nourished. There was no significant association between CRP (P = 0.067), ESR (P = 0.094) and SGA (Subjective Global Assessment) categories. Albumin (P < 0.001), Albumin/CRP ratio (P = 0.002), CRP/albumin ratio (P = < 0.001), and GPS (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with SGA categories. On multivariate analysis, albumin (P < 0.001), Albumin/CRP ratio (P = 0.004), CRP/albumin ratio (P = 0.009), GPS (P = 0.01), and ECOG (P = 0.009) were the only markers independently related to malnutrition.

Conclusion

The inflammation-based scores were significantly associated with malnutrition and can be used as biochemical nutritional assessment tools in cancer patients.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the patients who have generously given their time to be involved in this study and the resident doctors of the surgical oncology clinics especially Dr Fashiku and Dr Aremu for their contribution towards patient selection. We also like to thank Mr Salisu for the laboratory expertise, and Mr Toyin for his nutritional expertise.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, (O.I), upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The researchers did not receive any external funding for this work.