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Abstract
Objective. Malnutrition is common among patients with diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Nutritional intake may be negatively affected by nutrition impact symptoms (NIS). Therefore, the aims were to assess: 1) the prevalence of NIS in this group of patients and 2) the relationship between NIS and nutritional status as well as nutritional risk. Material and methods. We performed a cross-sectional study among patients with liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer or pancreatitis. Nutritional risk was assessed by the NRS-2002. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength (HGS), which were both measured within 5 days after admission. NIS were assessed by the Eating Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) and the Disease-Related Appetite Questionnaire (DRAQ). Results. In total, 126 patients were included (women 39%) with a mean BMI of 24 ± 5 kg/m2. The prevalence of low HGS was 38%, and the prevalence of those at nutritional risk was 58%. The number of NIS reported by 50% of the patients were 4 or more in the ESQ and 5 or more in the DRAQ. Patients who were both at nutritional risk and had a low HGS more frequently reported difficulties swallowing, poor appetite, feeling full after having one-fourth of the meal and food tasting bad. Conclusions. NIS that preclude food intake are very frequent among patients with diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Specific NIS are associated with low HGS, weight loss and being at nutritional risk.
Acknowledgements
We want to thank A Hatorp and D Munk Als for their help collecting data. We also want to thank S Ladelund, Clinical Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hvidovre Hospital, for statistical advice. The study was funded by the Danish Ministry of Health. The funding source had no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing or in the decision to submit the article.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.