Validation of the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in Thai Setting and Association with Nutritional Parameters in Cancer Patients

Nitichai, Nicharach; Angkatavanich, Jongjit; Somlaw, Nicha; Voravud, Narin; Lertbutsayanukul, Chawalit

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.4.1249

Validation of the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in Thai Setting and Association with Nutritional Parameters in Cancer Patients

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

² Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

³ Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.4.1249

Abstract

Background: The Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) is a multidimensional tool
to assess malnutrition and risk factors. The objectives of this study are to determine the validity of the Thai version of
the Scored PG-SGA (Thai PG-SGA) and examine the correlations with selected nutritional parameters. Methods: This
observational analytic study included 195 cancer patients aged greater than 18 years at a university-affiliated hospital in
Bangkok, Thailand. All patients were assessed for nutritional status by Thai PG-SGA in comparison to subjective global
assessment (SGA). Anthropometry, body composition, and hand grip strength were evaluated. Results: According to
PG-SGA global assessment categories, 39% (75) of 195 cancer patients were well nourished, 27% (53) were moderately
malnourished and 34% (67) of patients were severely malnourished. Thai PG-SGA had a sensitivity of 99.1% and a
specificity of 86.0% at predicting SGA classification. PG-SGA numerical scores were significantly different between
well-nourished and malnourished groups (4.2 ± 2.4 Vs 16.3 ± 4.9; p < 0.001). The PG-SGA scores, nutritional status
assessed by PG-SGA, and nutritional status assessed by SGA were correlated with weight, % weight loss in one month,
body mass index, body fat, and hand grip strength (p < 0.001) respectively. Conclusions: Thai PG-SGA showed high
sensitivity and good specificity in predicting malnutrition in Thai cancer patients. This tool demonstrated the correlations
with anthropometric parameters, body composition, and muscle strength.

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