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Low body mass index as a risk factor of moderate to severe oral mucositis in oral cancer patients with radiotherapy

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Abstract

Purpose

The association between body mass index (BMI) and oral mucositis in oral cancer patients receiving radiotherapy is unclear. This study examined whether low BMI could be a risk factor for oral mucositis in oral cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Methods

Between April 2007 and March 2011, a total of 33 inpatients with oral cancer receiving radiotherapy were recruited. They were followed from the beginning of radiotherapy to discharge from hospital. All patients had no mucositis when radiotherapy started. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of BMI for incident grade 2 and grade 3 mucositis were calculated by use of univariable logistic regression models.

Results

All patients developed oral mucositis (grade 1 in 39.4 %, grade 2 in 30.3 %, grade 3 in 30.3 %), with the maximum grade occurring at an average of 32.4 days. Compared with normal BMI (≥22.0), the OR of low BMI (<22.0) for moderate to severe mucositis was 9.07 (95 % CI, 1.72-47.68).

Conclusions

Low BMI may be a risk factor of moderate to severe oral mucositis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kita-kobayashi, Shimotsugagun-Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan

    Nobue Saito, Takashi Muto & Toshimi Sairenchi

  2. Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kita-kobayashi, Shimotsugagun-Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan

    Yutaka Imai

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  1. Nobue Saito
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  2. Yutaka Imai
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  4. Toshimi Sairenchi
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Correspondence to Nobue Saito.

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Saito, N., Imai, Y., Muto, T. et al. Low body mass index as a risk factor of moderate to severe oral mucositis in oral cancer patients with radiotherapy. Support Care Cancer 20, 3373–3377 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1620-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1620-7

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