Malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients in Hiwa Hospital: Prevalence and its related risk factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Clinical science branch of clinical nutrition university of Sulaimani Iraq

10.22038/psj.2025.90605.1482

Abstract

Introduction:
Malnutrition is a significant but under-researched complication among patients with cancer in resource-limited settings such as Iraq, where decades of instability have likely worsened nutritional challenges. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among hospitalized cancer patients at Hiwa Hospital in Sulaimani, Iraq.
 
Materials and Methods:
A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to March 2025, enrolling 350 adult inpatients with cancer using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews, clinical records reviews, and standardized anthropometric measurements. Nutritional status was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA).
Results:
The mean age of the participants was 56.5 ± 16.0 years, and 176 (50.3%) were female. The majority were Kurdish 315 (90%) and unemployed 275 (78.6%), with 150 (42.9%) having no formal education. Chemotherapy was the most common treatment 215 (61.4%). According to the PG-SGA, 114 (32.6%) patients were well-nourished, 138 (39.4%) had moderate malnutrition, and 98 (28%) were severely malnourished. MUST identified 127 (36.3%) patients at low risk, 96 (27.4%) at medium risk, and 127 (36.3%) at high risk of malnutrition. Significant associations were found between malnutrition and lower educational level (P ≤ 0.001) and marital status (P ≤ 0.001), while age was an essential predictor of malnutrition severity (OR = 0.067, P ≤ 0.001).
Conclusion:
Malnutrition is highly prevalent among hospitalized cancer patients in Iraq, with socioeconomic and clinical factors contributing significantly to its prevalence. Routine nutritional screening and early intervention are urgently needed in resource-limited settings.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
Volume 13, Issue 4
October 2025
Pages 251-260

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