BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is a symptom influencing several aspects of daily life. This study aimed at early identifying pain in cancer patients, at evaluating how this symptom has interfered with food ingestion and its impact on patients' nutritional status. METHODS: This was a prospective study including 222 cancer patients referred to the screening service of a hospital. Participants have answered a questionnaire with questions about food ingestion, presence of current pain and pain in the last month, type of pain, pain-related sleep disorders and weight loss in the last month. RESULTS: Weight loss in the last month was referred by 48.6% of the elderly and 31.2% of adults. There has been food ingestion decrease in 38.5% of the elderly and 31.9% of adults. Pain-related sleep disorders were reported by 35% of patients. Most prevalent were severe and moderate pain (40% each). Among participants referring pain and weight loss, most have decreased food ingestion. When relating food ingestion decrease and presence of pain, the result was 74% of individuals, showing a relationship between pain and decreased food ingestion (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: Pain is a symptom interfering with food ingestion and, if not treated, may lead to decreased food ingestion, weight loss and malnutrition, in addition to sleep disorders and incapacity to perform daily activities
Cancer; Malnutrition; Pain; Sleep
