Comorbidity, malnutrition, and their additive effect on prognosis in cancer patients: a multicenter cohort…

Cohort studyThe journal of nutrition, health & aging· Aug 2026

Comorbidity, malnutrition, and their additive effect on prognosis in cancer patients: a multicenter cohort study.

Kaijia Zhao, Huanyu Hu, Hongzhen Du … Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) Group

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Stroke & CerebrovascularCohort studyQ1IF 4.1

Comorbidity plus malnutrition together raise 30-day mortality odds in cancer patients

Comorbidity, malnutrition, and their additive effect on prognosis in cancer patients: a multicenter cohort study.

Kaijia Zhao … Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) Group

The journal of nutrition, health & aging · Aug 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

With population aging and the rising prevalence of chronic disease worldwide, comorbidity is prevalent among patients with cancer.

Methods

We analyzed data of 12,947 cancer patients from a large-scale multicenter cohort study.

Results

comorbidity plus malnutrition together sharply raise 30 day mortality odds

OR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

10,673 (82.4%) patients were diagnosed with malnutrition, and 7,982 (62.0%) patients had a high comorbidity burden (mACCI ≥ 2).

The comorbidity burden and malnutrition were significantly correlated only in patients with stage I disease (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13-2.25).

More results

Some comorbidities, including anemia, non-stroke cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease, and diabetes, had specific associations with the phenotypic or etiological characteristics of malnutrition (all p < 0.05).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

The relationship between comorbidity burden and malnutrition was stage-dependent, and their coexistence had an additive effect on the prognosis of cancer patients.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings highlight the importance of integrating comorbidity assessment into the nutritional management of cancer patients, particularly in early-stage disease.