Poor nutritional status prior to peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is associated with increased length of hospital stay

The nutritional status of patients prior to peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and its impact on length of hospital stay is not well described in the literature. The nutritional status of 66 consecutive patients (46 m: 20 f); and the mean age 58.7 +/- 12.0 years was determined a maximum of 2 weeks pre-transplantation using the scored Patient-Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). According to the global assessment, 73% patients were well nourished, 23% moderately malnourished and 4% severely malnourished. There was a significant difference in post transplant length of stay ( mean difference +/- s.e.m. -7.0 +/- 2.1 days) between well-nourished and malnourished patients and a trend towards higher mortality in the malnourished group (2 vs 20%). Although 89% of patients described no problems eating, two or more nutrition impact symptoms were reported in 30% of patients. From stepwise multiple regression analysis, nutritional status as determined by PG-SGA score was significantly associated with length of stay, accounting for 12% of the variance. In conclusion, malnutrition prior to PBSCT is associated with increased length of stay. Routine nutrition assessment of patients prior to PBSCT should be undertaken.