Multi-Domain Screening: Identification of Patient's Risk Profile Prior to Head-and-Neck Cancer Treatment

Monse W M Wieland; Walmari Pilz; Bjorn Winkens; Ann Hoeben; Anna C H Willemsen; Bernd Kremer; Laura W J Baijens

doi:10.3390/cancers15215254

Multi-Domain Screening: Identification of Patient's Risk Profile Prior to Head-and-Neck Cancer Treatment

Cancers (Basel). 2023 Nov 1;15(21):5254. doi: 10.3390/cancers15215254.

Authors

Monse W M Wieland^{1

2}, Walmari Pilz^{1

2}, Bjorn Winkens^{3

4}, Ann Hoeben^{2

5}, Anna C H Willemsen⁶, Bernd Kremer⁷, Laura W J Baijens^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
² GROW-School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
⁴ Care and Public Health Research Institute-CAPHRI, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
⁵ Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonessenhuis, 3508 TG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) can give rise to oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD), malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty. Early identification of these phenomena in newly diagnosed HNC patients is important to reduce the risk of complications and to improve treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the prevalence of the risk of OD, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty; and (2) to investigate the relation between these phenomena and patients' age, performance status, and cancer group staging.

Methods: Patients (N = 128) underwent multi-domain screening consisting of the Eating Assessment Tool-10 for OD, Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire and BMI for malnutrition, Short Physical Performance Battery and Hand Grip Strength for sarcopenia, and Distress Thermometer and Maastricht Frailty Screening Tool for frailty.

Results: 26.2%, 31.0%, 73.0%, and 46.4% of the patients were at risk for OD, malnutrition, sarcopenia, or frailty, respectively. Patients with an advanced cancer stage had a significantly higher risk of OD and high levels of distress prior to cancer treatment.

Conclusions: This study identified the risk profile of newly diagnosed HNC patients using a standardized 'quick and easy' multi-domain screening prior to cancer treatment.

Keywords: frailty; head and neck cancer; malnutrition; oropharyngeal dysphagia; sarcopenia; screening.

Grants and funding

not applicable/Stichting Michel Keijzer Fonds a non-profit fund managed 570 by the Dutch Head and Neck Cancer Patient Support Group (Michel Keijzer Fonds | PVHH).