Brazilian Nutritional Consensus in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Adults / Consenso Brasileiro de Nutrição em Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoiéticas: Adultos

ABSTRACT The nutritional status of patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplant is considered an independent risk factor, which may influence on quality of life and tolerance to the proposed treatment. The impairment of nutritional status during hematopoietic stem cell transplant occurs mainly due to the adverse effects resulting from conditioning to which the patient is subjected. Therefore, adequate nutritional evaluation and follow-up during hematopoietic stem cell transplant are essential. To emphasize the importance of nutritional status and body composition during treatment, as well as the main characteristics related to the nutritional assessment of the patient, the Brazilian Consensus on Nutrition in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Adults was prepared, aiming to standardize and update Nutritional Therapy in this area. Dietitians, nutrition physicians and hematologists from 15 Brazilian centers thar are references in hematopoietic stem cell transplant took part.

RESUMO O estado nutricional do paciente submetido ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas é considerado fator de risco independente, podendo influenciar na qualidade de vida e na tolerância ao tratamento proposto. O comprometimento do estado nutricional durante o transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas ocorre principalmente devido aos efeitos adversos decorrentes do condicionamento ao qual o paciente é submetido. Desta forma, a adequada avaliação nutricional e o acompanhamento durante o transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas tornam-se imprescindíveis. Com o objetivo de salientar a importância do estado nutricional e da composição corporal durante o tratamento, bem como as principais características relacionadas à avaliação nutricional do paciente, o Consenso Brasileiro de Nutrição em Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoiéticas: Adulto foi elaborado visando uniformizar e atualizar a Terapia Nutricional nesta área. Com a participação de nutricionistas, nutrólogos e hematologistas de 15 centros brasileiros referências em transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas

Appetite Assessment of Hospitalized Cancer Patients in Brazil - A Validation Study

OBJECTIVES: Appetite loss, a common symptom in cancer patients, contributes to worsened nutritional status. A validated specific tool to assess appetite is clinically useful for diagnosing and identifying symptoms and signs that could be reversed with nutritional and pharmacological therapies. The aim of this study is to produce a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Hill and Blundell visual analog scale (VAS) for appetite and investigate its validity among hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: The original English VAS version was translated into Brazilian Portuguese in full accordance with the guidelines in the literature and adapted to the Brazilian context by conducting interviews and meetings with an expert committee until the final version was reached. Afterwards, the version was validated in hospitalized cancer patients in a cross-sectional study at São Paulo Cancer Institute (ICESP), where the relationships between breakfast intake (rest-ingestion index) and VAS were compared. The Spearman test was used to verify the correlation between the rest-ingestion index and the VAS ratings. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with a mean age of 56.1 (±12.3) years answered the Portuguese VAS version, and their breakfast intake was evaluated. The mean rest-ingestion index was 18.8%. The correlations between the rest-ingestion index (food acceptance) and three questions of the Portuguese visual analog scale version were inverse and significant: first question (ρ -0.3028 p=0.0046), second question (ρ -0.2317 p=0.0319) and third question (ρ -0.3049 p=0.0043). CONCLUSION: The "Appetite Assessment Scale of Brazilian Oncology Patients" is a valid instrument to assess appetite in hospitalized cancer patients in Brazil.