| Abstrakt: |
Simple Summary: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients often experience serious side effects from treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which can lead to malnutrition and impact their overall health status. Men and women may face different nutritional challenges during these treatments, potentially affecting their treatment outcomes. This study investigates the gender-specific nutritional status of HNC patients over the course of their treatment, examining differences in body weight, body composition, and their impact on survival. While we found significant declines in albumin and total protein levels in both genders, females exhibited a more notable decrease in albumin levels. Survival analysis revealed that for males, the phase angle, an indicator of cellular health, was linked to survival. For females, albumin levels at the end of treatment were significant predictors of survival. Background/Objectives: This analysis aims to evaluate gender-specific differences in nutritional status, body weight changes, and their impact on overall survival (OS) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing (chemo)radiotherapy (CRT). Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 61 HNC (17 female and 44 male) patients were prospectively recruited to receive curative (chemo)radiotherapy. Nutritional assessments included dietary questionnaire screenings and records, anthropometric methods (body mass index, BMI, body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)), and the determination of biomarkers like albumin and CRP. Assessments were conducted before, during, and after (chemo)radiotherapy. Results: Gender differences were observed at baseline in Karnofsky performance status (p = 0.01), daily calorie intake (p = 0.04), phase angle (PA) (p = 0.003), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) (p < 0.001). During CRT, males showed a larger increase in calorie deficit (p < 0.001) and greater reductions in BMI, FFMI, and PA compared to females. Malnutrition risk (MUST score) increased significantly in males (p = 0.008) but not in females. Albumin and total protein declined in both genders, with a more pronounced drop in albumin for females. Survival analysis revealed that, for males, several factors, including baseline calorie deficit, BMI, PA, and FFMI, were linked to survival. For females, only albumin at therapy end was significantly associated with survival (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, baseline PA remained a significant predictor of survival for males (p = 0.026). Conclusions: Our findings suggest distinct gender differences in the nutritional and biochemical responses of HNC patients undergoing CRT, indicating the importance of tailored, gender-specific nutritional support during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
