Abstract

Objective: To assess nutritional status using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and identify factors associated with malnutrition among hospitalized cancer patients at the Oncology Department of Kon Tum Provincial General Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 303 hospitalized adult patients with cancer. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and medical record review. Nutritional status was assessed using the PG-SGA. Factors associated with malnutrition were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.31 ± 11.84 years; 53.8% were aged ≥60 years, and 75.5% had stage III–IV disease. According to the PG-SGA, 28.7% of patients were well nourished (PG-SGA A), 44.9% had suspected or moderate malnutrition (PG-SGA B), and 26.4% had severe malnutrition (PG-SGA C). Independent factors associated with malnutrition included age ≥60 years (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.02–3.01), BMI <18.5 kg/m² (aOR = 3.63; 95% CI: 2.01–6.57), stage III–IV disease (aOR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.24–4.18), the presence of at least one nutrition impact symptom (aOR = 4.53; 95% CI: 2.54–8.08), insufficient physical activity (aOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.18–3.50), and serum albumin <35 g/L (aOR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.78–5.52) (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Malnutrition assessed by the PG-SGA was highly prevalent among hospitalized patients with cancer. Older age, low BMI, advanced-stage disease, nutrition impact symptoms, insufficient physical activity, and hypoalbuminemia were independently associated with malnutrition.