DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i05.030

Pages: 533-538

Nutritional status is a critical determinant in the management of oncology patients, as malnutrition can significantly impair treatment tolerance and exacerbate therapy-related toxicities. This prospective observational study, involving 140 patients at the Department of Radiotherapy, evaluated the impact of baseline nutritional status on the clinical tolerance of radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Nutritional status was assessed prior to treatment using body mass index (BMI), recent weight loss, and serum albumin levels. Tolerance was monitored throughout therapy by recording adverse events according to CTCAE v5.0, treatment interruptions, protocol modifications, and unplanned hospitalizations. The cohort had a mean age of 57 years, with a predominance of head and neck (47.85%), cervical (30.71%), and prostate (21.43%) cancers. At the initiation of treatment, 45% of patients presented with impaired nutritional status. Among them, 65% experienced reduced treatment tolerance, compared to only 25% in the well-nourished group (p < 0.001). Malnourished patients exhibited significantly higher rates of severe fatigue (40% vs. 18%, p = 0.02), treatment interruptions or modifications (30% vs. 10%, p = 0.01), and unplanned hospitalizations (22% vs. 8%, p = 0.02). These findings demonstrate that baseline malnutrition is a strong predictor of poor tolerance and increased toxicity. This highlights the necessity for systematic early nutritional screening and proactive intervention to optimize therapeutic adherence and clinical outcomes for patients undergoing radiotherapy.