Effective nutritional intervention improves the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of undernourished children with cancer: results of a randomized, controlled phase 3 trial.

Purpose: The association of nutritional intervention and health-related quality of life (HRQL) was examined in children with cancer.

Methods: Undernourished children with cancer (N = 260) were randomized 1:1 to standard nutritional therapy (SNT) or SNT + Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). HRQL was assessed using the Health Utilities Index® (HUI) at study entry and 6 weeks later. HUI has two systems, HUI2 and HUI3, with derived categories of disability. Scores after SNT and SNT + RUTF were compared.

Results: At study entry there were no significant differences in HRQL scores between the two treatment arms. After 6 weeks of nutritional intervention, median overall HUI2 scores were comparable-0.90 with RUTF and 0.89 with SNT (p = 0.317)-but overall HUI3 scores were 0.90 and 0.79 (p = 0.009), respectively. At study entry and 6 weeks, 87 (35%) and 116 (46.6%) subjects had no or mild disability, and 162 (65%) and 133 (53.4%) had moderate or severe disability (p < 0.001) respectively using HUI2 scores. Corresponding scores with HUI3 were 66 (26.5%) and 103 (41.3%) for no or mild disability and 183 (73.5%) and 146 (58.6%) (p < 0.001) for moderate or severe disability at study entry and 6 weeks, respectively. Children with weight gain >10% had significant improvement in overall HUI2 (0.92 vs 0.84; p = 0.049) and HUI3 scores (0.88 vs 0.78; p = 0.010).

Conclusion: In severely and moderately malnourished children with cancer, administration of RUTF and weight gain were associated with improved HRQL. Weight gain can improve HRQL in numerous domains and overall.