ABSTRACT
Subjective global assessment is used as a simple way to assess malnutrition without the use of complete body composition analysis. Increased metabolism, characterised by increased resting metabolic rate, is often found in patients with cancer. The aim of this research is to identify the correlation between subjective global assessment, resting metabolic rate and fat free mass in patients with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Correlation between resting metabolic rate and fat free mass are measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and subjective global assessment and then assessed and analysed. A sample of 27 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients was used, consisting of approximately 60% men and 40% women. Of the subjects, 7.4% were found to be well nourished, 63% were malnourished and 29.6% were severely malnourished. The mean resting metabolic rate and fat free mass were 1346.3 ± 145.7 kcal and 44.5 ± 6.8 kg respectively. Only 3% of the patients were found to have above-normal resting metabolic rates. No correlation was found between subjective global assessment and resting metabolic rate (p = 0.275) or fat free mass (p = 0.850). There was no correlation between subjective global assessment and resting metabolic rate or fat free mass as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
