High prevalence and risk factors of undernutrition in adult cancer patients at Hawassa University Hospital - a call for targeted interventions

Q: What was the study’s main objective regarding nutrition in adult cancer patients?

To determine the prevalence of undernutrition and identify factors associated with it, so key characteristics could guide targeted nutritional interventions.

Q: How was undernutrition measured in the study?

Undernutrition was assessed using PG-SGA-SF scores and BMI measurements, along with indicators such as dietary diversity and other related clinical factors from interviews and questionnaires.

Q: Which factors were significantly associated with undernutrition?

Undernutrition was associated with low BMI, poor dietary diversity, use of semisolid/liquid diets, nausea, and constipation in multivariate analyses.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Cancer is a major global health concern driven by abnormal cell growth, and both the disease and its treatments can reduce taste, smell, appetite, and nutrient absorption, elevating malnutrition risk. This cross-sectional hospital study assessed undernutrition prevalence and associated factors among adult cancer patients, using structured interviews and PG-SGA-SF plus BMI and dietary indicators. Results highlight high malnutrition burden and link it to low BMI, poor dietary diversity, advanced disease, nausea, and constipation, supporting routine nutritional screening and targeted interventions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Cancer as a global health concern

Malnutrition and cancer in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa

Global and regional projections

Submitted 26 August 2024 Accepted 24 July 2025 Published 4 September 2025 Corresponding author Zelalem Tafese Wondimagegne, [wudasiez@gmail.com](wudasiez@gmail.com) Academic editor Juan Alpuche Additional Information and Declarations can be found on page 14 DOI 10.7717/peerj.19925 Copyright 2025 Worku et al. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 OPEN ACCESS High prevalence and risk factors of undernutrition in adult cancer patients at Hawassa University Hospital: a call for targeted interventions Simret Girma Worku1 ,* and Zelalem Tafese Wondimagegne2 ,* 1 School of Nutrition Food Science and Technology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia 2 School of Nutrition Food Science and Technology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia * These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT Background. Cancer, a condition marked by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, remains a major global health concern and is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Both the disease itself and its treatments can negatively impact taste, smell, appetite, and nutrient absorption, increasing the risk of malnutrition. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among adult cancer patients, with the goal of identifying key characteristics that could inform targeted interventions to address nutritional challenges in this population. Method. A cross-sectional study involving 393 participants was conducted at a hospital using a convenient sampling method. Data collection took place over a two-month period from April to June 2023 through face-to-face interviews, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were gathered using both the questionnaire and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment short form (PG-SGA-SF) . Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20, applying both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify associated factors. Variables with ap-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors. Results. Based on the PG-SGA-SF score, 58% of cancer patients were found to be malnourished. According to BMI measurements, 21% of participants were classified as underweight, while over 41% reported low dietary diversity, and nearly 78% were in advanced stages (III and IV) of cancer. Undernutrition showed significant associations (p < 0:01) with BMI below 18 .5 kg/m2 (AOR D 2.81, 95% CI [1 .29􀀕6 .08]), poor dietary diversity (AOR D 4.54, 95% CI [2.41􀀕8.53]), consumption of semisolid and liquid diets (AOR D 4.41, 95% CI [2.41􀀕8.10]), presence of nausea (AOR D 10.71, 95% CI [5.48􀀕20.94]), and constipation (AOR D 6.42, 95% CI [2.95􀀕13.97]) . Conclusion. The findings ofthis study reveal a considerable burden of undernutrition among adult cancer patients, emphasizing the critical need for routine nutritional screening as part of cancer care. Early identification of malnutrition is essential to effectively manage associated symptoms, prevent nutrition-related complications, and improve treatment outcomes. Integrating comprehensive nutritional assessment and support into oncology services is recommended to enhance the quality of care and overall prognosis for cancer patients. How to cite this article Worku SG, Wondimagegne ZT. 2025. High prevalence and risk factors of undernutrition in adult cancer patients at Hawassa University Hospital: a call for targeted interventions. PeerJ 13:e19925 [http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19925](http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19925) Subjects Global Health, Nutrition, Oncology, Public Health Keywords Cancer, Malnutrition, Constipation, Diet Diversity, Nausea, Vomitting, Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment, Nutrition, Disease, Predictors INTRODUCTION Cancer is a severe illness marked by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells within particular tissues or organs, posing a serious threat to normal bodily functions (Saini et

FAQs

What was the study’s main objective regarding nutrition in adult cancer patients?

To determine the prevalence of undernutrition and identify factors associated with it, so key characteristics could guide targeted nutritional interventions.

How was undernutrition measured in the study?

Undernutrition was assessed using PG-SGA-SF scores and BMI measurements, along with indicators such as dietary diversity and other related clinical factors from interviews and questionnaires.

Which factors were significantly associated with undernutrition?

Undernutrition was associated with low BMI, poor dietary diversity, use of semisolid/liquid diets, nausea, and constipation in multivariate analyses.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine