The Relationship Between Nutritional Risks and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Fast-Track Surgery.

BACKGROUND

Measurement of cancer-related fatigue and nutrition in the same colorectal cancer patient group using fast-track surgery has never been examined previously. The association between fatigue and nutritional status in the same patient group is thus worthwhile to be investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and nutrition risk factors in colorectal cancer patients with fast-track surgery.

METHODS

This is a single-arm, observational study. Seventy eligible postoperative patients with colorectal cancer fast-track surgery were enrolled in this study. Patients completed the Cancer Fatigue Scale and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) besides routine perioperative laboratory examination.

RESULTS

In this study, all patients were found to have cancer-related fatigue; 20% of the patients had severe fatigue. Furthermore, 94.29% of the patients were malnourished according to the PG-SGA score; the average was 15.585.18. Fatigue severity was significantly, positively correlated with nutrition status. White blood cells and serum calcium were significantly, positively related to both Cancer Fatigue Scale and PG-SGA scores.

CONCLUSION

Fatigue and malnutrition commonly exist in patients with colorectal cancer experiencing fast-track surgery. Fatigue may reflect the nutritional status in this group of patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Clinical nursing staff need to evaluate patients' fatigue status and nutritional status to provide the suitable clinical intervention when needed.