Abstract: Objective To explore the chemotherapy-induced taste changes in the elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer and the effects on nutrition, psychological status and quality of life. Methods A total of 189 elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected. The Chinese version of chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale(CiTAS), nutrition risk screening scale 2002, self-rating anxiety scale(SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) and European cancer treatment organization quality of life scale (EORTC QLQ-C30) were used to evaluate patients’ chemotherapy-induced taste changes, nutritional status, mental status and quality of life, and to analyze their correlation. Results Among 189 patients, 156 cases (82.54%) presented with chemotherapy-induced taste changes, who were assigned to changed group. The CiTAS score of changed group was higher than that of non-changed group(P < 0.05). The incidence rate of malnutrition risk in changed group was higher than that of non-changed group(50.0% vs 21.2%, P<0.05); The SAS score and SDS score of changed group were higher than those of non-changed group(P<0.05); The scores of physical function, emotional function and general health status of changed group were lower than those of non-changed group, and the scores of nausea and vomiting, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite and insomnia were higher than those of non-changed group (P < 0.05). The CiTAS score was significantly correlated with SAS score, SDS score, and EORTC QLQ-C30 score in changed group. Conclusions The incidence of chemotherapy-induced taste changes in the elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer is high, and the risk of malnutrition is high, which has a serious impact on the psychological status and quality of life.

Key words: aged, gastrointestinal cancer, chemotherapy-induced taste changes, nutrition, mental state, quality of life