Nutrition and Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Older Adults (≥60): A Scoping Review

Victoria Crowder, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460. Electronic address: victoria.crowder@unc.edu.
Ayomide Okanlawon Bankole, School of Nursing, Duke University, Office 3261 Interprofessional Education Building, 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710. Electronic address: ayomide.bankole@duke.edu.
Jamie L. Conklin, Health Sciences Librarian and Liaison to Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Health Sciences Library, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Electronic address: jconklin@unc.edu.
Amanda S. Sawyer, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2211 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7461, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Electronic address: amanda_holliday@unc.edu.
Amanda M. Holliday, Oncology Dietitian, Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157. Electronic address: amanda.holliday@unchealth.unc.edu.
Rebecca Fogle, Clinical Dietitian II, North Carolina Cancer Hospital, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Electronic address: rebecca.fogle@unchealth.unc.edu.
Lorinda A. Coombs, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460. Electronic address: lcoombs@email.unc.edu.
Daniel R. Richardson, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#7305, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Electronic address: daniel_richardson@med.unc.edu.
Melissa Batchelor, The George Washington University School of Nursing, 1919 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20006. Electronic address: melissabphd@gwu.edu.
Anna Beeber, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205. Electronic address: abeeber1@jhmi.edu.
Todd Schwartz, Department of Biostatistics, Professor, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Electronic address: tschwart@email.unc.edu.
Ashley Leak Bryant, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460. Electronic address: ashley_bryant@unc.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-20-2025

Journal

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

DOI

10.1016/j.jand.2025.06.028

Keywords

Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Eating; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Nutrition; Quality of Life

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) commonly affect older adults (aged ≥60). Treatments are often intensive, with side effects impacting patients' eating abilities and, consequently, nutritional status, which can influence treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: For older adults with AML/MDS: 1.What research has been conducted to describe their nutrition experiences? 2.What research has been conducted regarding the effects of nutrition experiences on physical health, psychosocial health, and quality of life (QOL)? METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines to search on April 30, 2024 in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. Criteria included English language, peer-reviewed, empirical studies with unique findings regarding nutrition for older adults (aged ≥60) with AML/MDS. Studies focusing on risk of future cancers and drug trials were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-two studies published from 1992-2024 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-four articles focused on patients with AML, 16 on patients with MDS, and two reported both. Most quantitative studies were retrospective (n=20), and only five assessed nutrition over time. Nutrition experiences included: malnutrition, weight loss, sarcopenia, impaired renal function, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, mucositis, dysphagia, decreased appetite or intake, altered taste, and gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, diarrhea). Studies described the effects on health and QOL, including significant relationships with functional status, clinical complications, comorbidities, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AML and MDS may face varied experiences with nutrition, especially related to malnutrition. Challenges may be associated with declines in physical health and QOL. Importantly, no studies in this review reported effects on psychosocial outcomes, and few reported race/ethnicity, which are recommended to measure in future studies to understand potential challenges and outcomes. The findings of this review may inform further research on nutritional health and intervention development, and effects on QOL.

Department

Nursing Faculty Publications

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