Association of dietary patterns with overweight risk and all-cause mortality in children with cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association of dietary patterns with overweight risk and all-cause mortality in pediatric cancer patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Prospective cohort study was undertaken; 83 cancer patients admitted to the pediatric cancer ward at a university hospital in Seoul were included and followed for obesity and death over 24 months. Food consumption data were collected from patients using validated meal order sheets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the pediatric cancer ward over 3 days. Using principal component analysis, three dietary patterns were derived from 29 food groups. RESULTS: Eighteen deaths occurred among the patient cohort during the follow-up period. The “spicy & fried meat and fish” dietary pattern was positively associated with overweight risk at both baseline [odds ratio (OR) = 4.396, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.111-17.385, P for trend = 0.023] and after 6 months (OR = 4.088, 95% CI = 1.122-14.896, P for trend = 0.025) as well as all-cause mortality (hazard ratios = 5.124, 95% CI = 1.080-24.320, P for trend = 0.042), when comparing the highest and lowest tertiles after adjusting for covariates. The “fish, egg, meat, and fruits & vegetables” dietary pattern was associated with lower overweight risk after 24 months (OR = 0.157, 95% CI = 0.046-0.982, P for trend = 0.084). CONCLUSION: The results imply that dietary patterns might be associated with weight gain and premature death among pediatric cancer patients.

Analysis of the Factors Relating Nutritional Status in Discharging of Leukemia Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

This study was performed to investigate the changes of oral diet intake during the admission period and identify the factors related with nutritional status in discharging of leukemia patients. This is a retrospective cross sectional study on 46 leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy at the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from July to September 2009. The patients' charts were surveyed on the general characteristics and factors relating chemotherapy. The calorie count method was used to investigate diet intake during admission period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify possible confounding factors. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age was 42.8 +/- 14.6 years and the average length of stay was 30.4 +/- 7.0 days. The incidence of malnourished patients was 60.9% in discharging. There was a significant difference in chemotherapy sessions and chemotherapy period between well-nourished and malnourished patients. The average energy intake was 1,525.9 kcal in well-nourished patients and 1,143 kcal in malnourished patients, which was significant different. From repeated measures ANOVA test, the changes of oral intake during admission period were significant by groups. In addition, there were significant differences in oral intake according to each period between well-nourished and malnourished patients. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, both the ratio of total oral energy intake to recommended energy intake and chemotherapy sessions were significantly associated with nutritional status in discharging. The results of this study could be used to establish a protocol of nutritional management for leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.