Table 5 Multivariable analysis of factors associated with hypoalbuminemia, hypoproteinemia and low Hgb level among adult patients with cancer on treatment follow up at JMC, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia, 2021 (n = 176)

Sex

Male

34(63)

1

0.307

Female

53(43.4)

0.62(0.24–1.56)

Loss of appetite

No

13(33.3)

1

0.359

Yes

74(54)

0.62(0.23–1.71)

change in weight

Weight gain or No change

5(23.8)

1

Moderate weight loss

31(41.3)

1.89(0.51–7.03)

0.338

Severe weight loss

51(63.7)

2.27(0.58–9.02)

0.241

Nutritional status

Well-nourished

16(23.5)

1

Malnourished

71(65.7 )

3.9(1.81–8.4)

0.001**

Type of cancer

Breast cancer

23(39 )

1

Genitourinary cancer

25(43.9)

1.15(0.50–2.64)

0.727

Gastrointestinal cancer

31(73.8)

3.39(1.29–8.88)

0.013**

Others

8(44.4 )

1.71(0.51–5.68)

0.384

Stage of cancer

Stage I

4(22.2)

1

Stage II

9(27.3)

2.09(0.45–9.74)

0.347

Stage III

27(51.9 )

3.64(0.87–15.18)

0.076

Stage IV

47(64.4)

4.98(1.23–20.07)

0.024**

Hypoproteinemia

AOR & 95%CI

p-value

Yes N (%)

Age in year

18–34

4(14.8)

1

35–54

30(32.6)

2.88(0.86–9.60)

0.084

55–64

13(40.6)

3.62(0.94–13.99)

0.061

> 64

13(52)

6.44(1.55–26.67)

0.01**

Sex

Male

25(46.3)

1

0.843

Female

35(28.7)

0.91(0.34–2.39)

Loss of appetite

No

9(18)

1

0.22

Yes

51(40.5)

2.01(0.67–6.08)

Nutritional status

Well-nourished

12(17.6 )

1

0.004**

Malnourished

48(44.4)

3.14(1.43–6.94)

Type of cancer

Breast cancer

16(27.15 )

1

Genitourinary cancer

15(26.35 )

0.80(0.34–1.91)

0.623

Gastrointestinal cancer

25(59.5)

2.92(1.01–6.29)

0.048**

Others

4(22.2)

0.82(0.22–3.09)

0.769

Stage of cancer

Stage I

5(27.8 )

1

Stage II

7(21.2 )

0.85(0.19–3.76)

0.828

Stage III

16(30.8)

0.93(0.24–3.68)

0.923

Stage IV

32(43.8 )

1.28(0.35–4.76)

0.709

Low Hgb level

AOR & 95%CI

P-value

Yes N (%)

Age

18–34

11(40.7)

1

35–54

43(46.7)

1(0.35–2.82)

0.985

55–64

18(56.3 )

1.34(0.39–4.57)

0.637

> 64

16(64.0 )

3.29(0.82–13.10)

0.091

Sex

Male

32(59.3 )

1

Female

56(45.9)

0.77(0.33–1.77)

0.541

Change In Weight

Weight gain or No change

4(19.0 )

1

Moderate weight loss

32( 42.7 )

2.65(0.63–11.14)

0.182

Severe weight loss

52(65 )

3.72(0.802–17.32)

0.093

Nutritional status

Well-nourished

16(23.5)

1

0.000**

Malnourished

72(66.7)

3.8(1.82–8.2)

Type of cancer

Breast cancer

26(44.1)

1

Genitourinary cancer

27(47.4)

0.78(0.3–1.99)

0.616

Gastrointestinal cancer

28(66.7)

1.05(0.31–3.59)

0.930

Other

6(38.9)

0.57(0.12–2.71)

0.482

Stage of cancer

Stage I

5(27.8)

1

Stage II

3(9.1)

0.26(0.051-`1.37)

0.105

Stage III

28(53.8)

2.08(0.60–7.15)

0.245

Stage IV

52(71.2 )

3.94 (1.11–13.35)

0.027**

Type of cancer treatment

Chemotherapy

63(46.7)

1

chemo radiotherapy

22(68.8 )

2.35(0.883–6.26)

0.087

surgery

3(33.3)

1.91(0.29–12.36)

0.493