Usefulness of Smartphone Apps for Improving Nutritional Status of Pancreatic Cancer Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Approximately 80% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients suffer from anorexia, weight loss, and asthenia. Most PDAC patients receive chemotherapy, which often worsens their nutritional status owing to the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Malnutrition of PDAC patients is known to be associated with poor prognosis; therefore, nutritional management during chemotherapy is a key factor influencing the outcome of the treatment. Mobile apps have the potential to provide readily accessible nutritional support for patients with PDAC. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile app-based program, Noom, in patients receiving chemotherapy for PDAC. METHODS: ) of the L3 skeletal muscles were analyzed. The decrement was higher in the non-Noom user group than in the Noom user group, but it was not statistically significant (-13.96% vs. -3.27%; P=.11). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates that a mobile app-based approach is beneficial for nutritional and psychological support for PDAC patients receiving chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04109495; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04109495.