Malnutrition is still a largely unrecognized problem in hospitals. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is generally related to increased morbidity and mortality, costs and length of stay. Malnutrition appears to be a major and noticeable problem in patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Patients suffering from gastrointestinal malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease and peptic ulcer disease have a more pronounced level of malnutrition. The incidence of malnutrition among patients with cancer has been estimated at between 40 and 80%.
Malnutrition, in Gastroenterology cancer patients, adversely affects survival and quality of life. The impact of nutrition on the outcome is a neglected area of research in GI oncology. Nearly 20% of cancer patients are reported to die of malnutrition or its associated complications rather than the malignant disease itself. The prevalence of…
