This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic consistency between the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) for identifying malnutrition in patients with pancreatic malignant tumors. The goal is to determine if the GLIM criteria, a newer and more streamlined tool, shows substantial agreement with the well-established PG-SGA, thereby supporting its use in this high-risk clinical population.
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy often associated with severe nutritional decline. While the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) is used for initial screening and the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) is a recognized standard for detailed nutritional assessment, the PG-SGA can be time-consuming. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were developed to provide a globally harmonized, two-step framework for diagnosing malnutrition. This prospective observational study was designed to compare the performance of GLIM criteria against the PG-SGA in patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients admitted to the hospital were screened with NRS 2002. Those at nutritional risk (NRS 2002 ≥ 3) were then comprehensively assessed using both PG-SGA and GLIM criteria. The study hypothesis is that the GLIM criteria and PG-SGA will demonstrate good consistency in diagnosing malnutrition in this population, validating GLIM as a practical and reliable assessment tool in clinical settings.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
108
Malnutrition was diagnosed according to the GLIM consensus criteria. This required at least one phenotypic criterion (non-volitional weight loss, low BMI, or reduced muscle mass) and one etiologic criterion (reduced food intake/assimilation or inflammation/disease burden). Reduced muscle mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The assessment was performed once for each patient within 24 hours of hospital admission.
A comprehensive nutritional assessment administered by trained clinical staff. The tool comprises patient-reported sections (weight history, food intake, symptoms, activities/function) and clinician-assessed sections (disease, metabolic demand, physical exam). For this study, a total score of ≥2 was considered indicative of malnutrition. The assessment was performed once for each patient within 24 hours of hospital admission.
First Hospital of Hebei Medical University
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
Diagnostic Consistency between GLIM Criteria and PG-SGA
The consistency in diagnosing malnutrition (yes/no) between the GLIM criteria and the PG-SGA was assessed. The agreement was quantified using Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ). A kappa value of 0.61-0.80 was interpreted as substantial agreement.
Time frame: Assessed once within 24 hours of hospital admission.
Prevalence of Malnutrition according to GLIM Criteria
The percentage of patients diagnosed with malnutrition based on the GLIM criteria, which requires at least one phenotypic criterion (non-volitional weight loss, low BMI, or reduced muscle mass) and one etiologic criterion (reduced food intake/assimilation or inflammation/disease burden).
Time frame: Assessed once within 24 hours of hospital admission.
Prevalence of Malnutrition according to PG-SGA
The percentage of patients identified as malnourished based on the PG-SGA. A total score of ≥2 was considered indicative of malnutrition.
Time frame: Assessed once within 24 hours of hospital admission.
Correlation of Assessment Tools with Nutritional Indicators
The correlation between the malnutrition diagnosis (by GLIM and PG-SGA) and traditional nutritional indicators was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. The indicators included mid-upper arm circumference (AC), calf circumference (CC), Body Mass Index (BMI), serum albumin (Alb), and hemoglobin (Hb).
Time frame: Assessed at baseline (within 24 hours of admission).
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