Impact of undernutrition on the survival of cancer patients in a medical oncology department in sub-saharan africa: about a case at the Treichville university hospital

Undernutrition is a pejorative factor in the oncological management of the patient which is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality, a decrease in quality of life leading to a long hospital stay. We report the case of a 62-year-old patient, followed at the Treichville University Hospital admitted to hospitalization for physical asthenia on adenocarcinoma of the left colon metastatic hepatic and pulmonary without any specific treatment in which the physical examination finds: - PS WHO 3 - Significant weight loss (loss of 28% of usual weight in 3 months), (weight 37 KG, Height: 165cm, BMI: 13, 59kg/M2) - Sarcopenia- Reduction of more than 50% in food intake- Albumin: 17.9g/l - MNA score: 3 Metabolic disorder (severe HypoNa+: 117 meq/L, HypoK+: 2.61 meq/L) - Moderate anaemia (7.1 g/dl) microcytic hypochromiumHE benefited from the correction of metabolic disorders and nutritional rehabilitation. The evolution was marked by a stabilization of the metabolic and nutritional balance, of the clinical state with weight gain and a WHO score 2; We continued his treatment and on D35 of hospitalization, he benefited from the first course of chemotherapy. Post-chemotherapy tolerance was good and the assessment of nutritional status was favourable. It was decided to continue with the nutrition protocol. However, there was a problem of financial means because in our context this nutritional care is the responsibility of the patient. The patient was discharged against medical advice and died 7 days later. As the renutrition process is slow, it lengthens the length of hospitalization of patients and delays specific care. Keywords: cancer, undernutrition, hospitalization, Abidjan.