Two-year survival in patients with oncological disease with low muscle reserve, risk of sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia: A post hoc analysis.

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass quantity and quality. Our objective was to establish the prevalence of low muscle reserve, risk of sarcopenia (RIS) and probable sarcopenia (PS) and their associations with survival at two years in hospitalized patients with cancer.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of the Nutri-Score and Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) operational characteristics. Adjusted calf circumference (CC) was used as an indicator of muscle reserve. The RIS was determined using cut-off points of the CC. PS was defined as low hand grip strength (HGS) according to Working Groups on Sarcopenia also the presence of RIS with PS was analysed. A 2-year survival model was constructed.

Results: A total of 137 patients were included: 54 % were women, with a mean age of 54.7 ± 15.4 years; 61 % had some degree of malnutrition; 48 % had low muscle reserve; 42 % had RIS; 28 % and 38 % had PS and 25 % had RIS with PS. Severe muscle reserve deficit (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.71, 95 % Interval Confidence (95 % CI) 1.37-5.37), RIS (HR = 2.94 95 % 1.66-5.21), PS (HR = 1.85 95 % 1.06-3.22) and (HR = 1.94 95 % 1.09-3.41) by two different consensus and RIS with PS (HR = 2.36 95 % CI 1.33-4.19) were associated with survival.

Conclusion: Severe muscle reserve deficit, RIS and PS are associated with decreased survival in hospitalized patients with oncological disease.