Effect Of Early Enteral Nutritional Support On Patients With Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy For Oral Cancer

BackgroundThere are few studies on nutritional intervention for patients with oral cancer after surgery.Some studies have confirmed the advantages of early nutritional support in improving nutritional status and quality of life,but there is no consensus on intervention opportunity of clinical nutritional intervention for oral cancer.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early enteral nutrition support(two weeks before radiotherapy)on the nutritional status and quality of life of patients with oral cancer after postoperative radiotherapy.MethodsA total of 44 patients with oral cancer,who were nutritionally intervened at different time with postoperative radiotherapy in Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital,from July,2017 to July,2018 was enrolled.The changes of nutritional status and quality of life were recorded and analyzed.Repeated measurement analysis of variance was used to assess weight,the body mass index,as well as their changes from baseline,and Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment,global health status,physical function and fatigue in the Quality of Life Questionnaire(EORTC QLQ-C30 H&N35).ResultsThe total number of early intervention(2 weeks before radiotherapy to 2 weeks after the end of radiotherapy)was 25 and reactive intervention(3 weeks after radiotherapy to2 weeks after the end of radiotherapy)was 19.The weight of both groups showed a downward trend during the chemoradiotherapy period,but the degree in the early intervention group was smaller(P=0.023).There was no significant difference between two groups in body mass index,fat mass index,fat free mass index,hemoglobin and albumin during follow-up(P>0.05).PG-SGA of both groups showed a significant decrease during the visit,especially in the early intervention group(P=0.027).The global health status of two groups was overall improved,but patients both experienced fatigue,and their physical function continued fading,especially in reactive intervention group(P>0.05).There was no difference in the grades of oral mucositis and local tumor control rate between two groups.ConclusionsThe nutritional status of patients for oral cancer with postoperative chemoradiotherapy decreases significantly.Early enteral nutritional support can sustain weight and improve patients’ nutritional status to some extent,but fail to enhance the quality of life and curative effect of patients and fail to reduce the grades of radiotherapyassociated oral mucositis.