Assessment of Malnutrition Using Biochemical Markers among Female Breast Cancer Patients Attending Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Malnutrition occurs
frequently in cancer patients.
Malnourished cancer patient responds poorly to therapeutic
interventions, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery with increased morbidity and
mortality.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate malnutrition in breast cancer patients
through biochemical markers at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.
Materials and methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 breast cancer
patients and 50 healthy individuals from January to April 2017 at Tikur Anbessa Specialized
Hospital, Ethiopia. The required amount of blood was withdrawn from both group by well
trained nurses in the hospital and serum stored at -800c refrigerator until analysis. Data were
collected on socio demographic factors, biochemical, anthropometric and hematological
parameter.
Result: The mean age of the study and control group was 43.06 year. Comparison of mean
between study and control group shows 3.89 ± 0.04 g/dl and 4.34 ± 0.17g/dl for albumin, 3.92 ±
0.08 g/dl and 3.35 ± 0.04 g/dl for globulin, 1.73 x 103 ± 0.29 cells / mm3 and 2.35 x 103 ± 1.12
cells /mm
3
for total lymphocyte count, 0.72 ± 0.03 mg/l and 0.96 ± 0.03 mg/l for creatinine,
25.19 ± 1.22 mg/l and 21.62 ± 1.01 mg/l for urea for study and control group respectively. All
the above mean values show statistically significant difference between study and control groups
with p value < 0.05. There were no statistically significant difference mean value levels of total
protein and body mass index in our study. Prevalence of malnutrition assessed through albumin
was 32%, TLC 46% and BMI 36%. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive correlation
between globulin and total protein level (r = 0.84, P < 0 .0001) and negative correlation between
albumin and globulin level (r = -0.48, p < 0.0001) in the breast cancer patients. Albumin
positively correlated with TLC (r = 0.51, p= 0.03) in the breast cancer patients.
Conclusion: The present study revealed serum albumin, globulin, creatinine, urea level were
reliable biochemical markers combined with TLC for assessment of malnutrition in breast cancer
patients.
Key words: breast cancer, Malnutrition, Albumin, Globulin, creatinine and total lymphocyte
Count
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Keywords
Breast cancer; Malnutrition; Albumin, Globulin; Creatinine and total lymphocyte Count