Association between hypoalbuminemia and toxicity by chemotherapy in elderly cancer patients

Introduction: The risk of mortality in elderly patients with cancer and the length of hospital stay are increased due to an albumin concentration lower than 3.5 g/dL. Objective: To determine the association between hypoalbuminemia and chemotherapy toxicity in elderly oncological patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study, conducted in 192 outpatients of Centro Médico Naval del Callao, Perú, males, older than 60 years old. Adverse effects to chemotherapy and associated factors were evaluated between 2013 and 2015. Crude and adjusted Cox regression models were created to determine the association between hypoalbuminemia and the development of chemotherapy toxicity. Results: Association was found between hypoalbuminemia (HR= 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), age (HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), malnutrition (HR= 1.1; 95% CI: 1.05-1.21), diabetes mellitus (HR= 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00-1.12), body fat percentage (HR= 0.97; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99) and chemotherapy toxicity. Conclusions: In elderly oncology patients at Centro Médico Naval, a significant association is found between hypoalbuminemia and chemotherapy toxicity.