Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 As A Nutritional Risk Screening Method In Esophageal Cancer Patients Treated With Radiotherapy

Purpose: To assess the value of nutritional risk screening-2002(NRS-2002)as a nutritional risk screening method in esophageal cancer patients.Methods: A total of 97 esophageal cancer patients previously treated with radiotherapy at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital were selected for the present study. Nutritional status was assessed by NRS-2002. Weight, serum total protein, albumin, prealbumin level, red blood cell and hemoglobin were also recorded.Results: Proportion of patients at nutritional risk based on NRS-2002 from baseline to the 6th week of radiotherapy was form 26.8% increased to 44.8%. In univariate analysis, NRS-2002 cut-off score≤3 at baseline was associated with improved 1-year overall survival(OS) than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥4(91.1% vs. 40.6%, P=0.010). The max NRS-2002 cut-off score≤2 during treatment was associated with improved 1-year OS than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥3(86.3% vs. 80.1%, P=0.012). The min NRS-2002 cut-off score≤3 during treatment was associated with improved 1-year OS than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥4(92.6% vs. 54.5%, P=0.009). During patients of stage III and IV, NRS-2002 cut-off score≤3 at baseline was associated with improved 1-year OS than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥4(86.7% vs. 55.6%, P=0.012). The max NRS-2002 cut-off score≤2 during treatment was associated with improved 1-year OS than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥3(92.5% vs. 72.5%,P=0.012). The min NRS-2002 cut-off score≤3 during treatment was associated with improved 1-year OS than NRS-2002 cut-off score≥4(88.5% vs. 50.0%, P=0.018). NRS-2002 score correlated negatively with prealbumin at baseline and the 1st week of radiotherapy(r2=5.951, P=0.000; r2=4.683, P=0.002). The NRS2002 score correlated negatively with albumin at the 3rd week of radiotherapy(r2=2.690, P=0.036). Multivariate analyses showed patients with earlier TMN stage or lower max NRS-2002 score duringtreatment had better survival outcomes.Conclusions: NRS-2002 was a reliable nutritional risk screening method in esophageal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.