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Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1810620
Original Article

Malnutrition among Pediatric Cancer Patients: A Study of Government Hospitals in Delhi

Amitabh Singh
1   Department of Pediatrics, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
,
Piali Mandal
2   Department of Pediatric Oncology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India
,
Poonam Bagai
3   Founder, Chairman, CanKids KidsCan, New Delhi, India
,
Nikhat Fatima
4   Department of Treatment Support Program, CanKids KidsCan, New Delhi, India
,
Khushboo Sharma
5   Pediatrics Cancer Research Institute, CanKids KidsCan, New Delhi, India
,
Haresh Gupta
6   Division of Medical, Palliative Care Program, Pediatric Cancer Research Institute, CanKids KidsCan, New Delhi, India
,
Pooja Sharma
7   Department of Research, APAR Health, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
,
Padam Singh
7   Department of Research, APAR Health, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
,
Adarsh Keshari
7   Department of Research, APAR Health, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
› Further Information
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Abstract

Introduction

Research indicates a considerably higher incidence of malnutrition at the time of diagnosis among patients with pediatric cancer. Studies have also shown that malnutrition tends to worsen with anti-cancer therapies. However, there are limited studies conducted in the Indian context, and those available often involve small sample sizes.

Objectives

This study aims to address this gap by analyzing data of patients with pediatric cancer treated at two government hospitals in Delhi.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study includes data from 1,042 patients with pediatric cancer, collected over 6 years from April 2018 to April 2024. The dataset includes age at diagnosis, cancer type, and anthropometric measurements recorded at the initial contact. The analysis focuses on the prevalence of malnutrition, stratified by gender, age group, and cancer type.

Results

Among patients with pediatric cancer, more than 80% were diagnosed with hematological malignancies. This study identified an overall malnutrition prevalence of 39.7% (414 out of 1,042). Notably, the prevalence increases with age.

Conclusion

Given the substantially higher levels of malnutrition among patients with pediatric cancer at baseline and the anticipated increase during anticancer therapy, there is a pressing need for close monitoring and the development of targeted, individualized nutritional interventions. Such measures are essential to mitigate the impact of malnutrition on treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords

malnutrition - incidence - pediatric cancer - WHO norms - acute lymphoblastic leukemia - prevalence

Authors' Contributions

A.S.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, clinical studies, data acquisition, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


P.M.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


P.B.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


N.F.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, data acquisition, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


K.S.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, clinical studies, experimental studies, data acquisition, data analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


H.G.—Concept design, definition of intellectual content, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


P. Sharma—Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


P. Singh—Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, data analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


A.K.—Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, and manuscript review.


The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors that the requirements for authorship have been met and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.


Patient's Consent

Patient consent is not required due to the retrospective nature of the study.




Publication History

Article published online:
18 August 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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