A Comparison of Quality of Life and Nutritional Status After Gastrectomy in Korean Gastric Cancer Patients
April 2013
in “
The FASEB journal
”
Studysummary This study found that improved nutritional status after gastric cancer surgery was associated with better quality of life, with malnourished patients experiencing greater eating restrictions, anxiety, and other issues.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study evaluated the quality of life (QoL) and nutritional status in 222 Korean gastric cancer patients post-gastrectomy. At 6 months post-surgery, 67.7% of patients were malnourished, but nutritional status improved over time (p<0.001). Malnourished patients had significantly lower intake of various nutrients and worse QoL scores (22.3 ±14.6) compared to the normal group (17.2±11.8, p<0.001). They also experienced more eating restrictions, anxiety, taste problems, and hair loss (all p<0.001). Factors such as follow-up duration, extent of gastric resection, chemotherapy, and nutritional status independently influenced QoL. The findings suggested that improving nutritional status could enhance QoL and support early recovery.
