Ahmet SARICI, Mehmet Ali ERKURT, Emin KAYA, İrfan KUKU, İlhami BERBER, Süleyman ARSLAN, Birgül DENİZ, İpek BALIKÇI ÇİÇEK, Emine HİDAYET
Acta Haematologica Oncologica Turcica - 2026;59(1):48-55
Aim: Malnutrition is frequently observed in patients with hematopoietic malignancies due to the effects of the primary disease and treatments. The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status of patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and to evaluate the effects of malnutrition on anthropometric measurements, muscle function, and skinfold thickness. Methods: This retrospective study included 37 patients with hematological malignancies who were at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia, as determined using the NRS2002. The nutritional status of the patients was evaluated before and after nutritional support using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Additionally, triceps, calf, suprailiac, and subscapular skinfold thicknesses, as well as handgrip strength (HG), were measured before and after nutritional support. The patients' malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) scores, sarcopenia levels, body mass index (BMI), and weight changes were compared before and after nutritional support. Results: The participants' weight and BMI showed statistically significant changes after nutritional therapy. The median weight increased from 59 (38-88) kg to 61 (42-87) kg, and the median BMI rose from 21.75 (15.3-28.4) to 23 (16.8-28.2) (p<0.001). The MUST score, sarcopenia risk, skinfold thickness, and HG measurements showed significant decreases (all p<0.001). Increases in weight, BMI, hand-grip strength, and skinfold thickness measurements, and decreases in MUST score and sarcopenia risk were observed. The mean survival time was calculated as 10.89 months. The 6-month survival rate was 89.2%. Conclusion: Providing nutritional support according to the GLIM criteria to patients with hematological malignancies can help protect them from sarcopenia.
