Effectiveness of outpatient nutritional counselling in preventing post-gastrectomy weight loss in gastric cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of outpatient nutritional counselling in preventing post-gastrectomy weight loss in gastric cancer patients.

Subjects and Methods: The rate of weight loss 6 months after gastrectomy was assessed prospectively in 55 patients who were regularly provided with outpatient nutritional counselling to prevent weight loss (counselling group) and retrospectively in 53 patients who were not provided with such counselling (control group).

Among all patients (n = 108), clinical factors associated with weight loss of < 10% at 6 months after surgery were investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: The rate of weight loss 6 months after surgery was significantly lower in the counselling group than in the control group (9.6% vs 13.3%, respectively; p < 0.005). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the following independent factors were involved in weight loss of <10% at 6 months after surgery: (i) nutritional counselling (odds ratio [OR]: 3.495; p = 0.007); (ii) stage I gastric cancer (OR: 2.823; p = 0.027); and (iii) partial gastrectomy (OR: 8.078; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Outpatient nutritional counselling was effective in preventing post-gastrectomy weight loss.