Victor, Lena Christine (2025) The association between risk of malnutrition, serum albumin level and protein intake among cancer patients in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia. (Submitted)
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Abstract
Malnutrition is a common issue often overlooked in cancer patients, particularly due to treatment side effects or disease progression. Serum albumin is a key biomarker for assessing nutritional status, with protein intake being crucial for maintaining muscle mass and strength throughout treatment. Despite numerous studies on the link between malnutrition, serum albumin levels, and protein intake, there is limited research specifically on cancer patients at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition risk, serum albumin levels, and protein intake among cancer patients at HPUSM. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 91 cancer patients, where malnutrition risk was assessed using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), serum albumin levels were retrieved from medical records, and protein intake was measured using a 3-day dietary recall. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Pearson correlation analysis. The results showed that 41.8% of patients were at risk of malnutrition, with an average serum albumin level of 40.46 g/L, within the normal range (3.4-5.4 g/dL or 34-54 g/L). The average daily protein intake was 46.13 grams. A significant positive correlation was found between protein intake and serum albumin (r = 0.286, p = 0.006), though no significant correlation was found between protein intake and malnutrition risk. The study highlights the need for more comprehensive early nutritional screening, such as the use of the SGA, to identify malnutrition risks in cancer patients. Additionally, appropriate nutritional interventions, such as protein supplementation and personalized diet planning, should be implemented to improve nutritional status, reduce treatment side effects, and enhance cancer therapy tolerance
| Item Type: | Monograph (Project Report) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Malnutrition |
| Subjects: | R Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
| Divisions: | Kampus Kesihatan (Health Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan (School of Health Sciences) > Monograph |
| Depositing User: | MUHAMMAD AKIF AIMAN AB SHUKOR |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 00:18 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Mar 2026 06:48 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/63523 |
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