A new study has revealed that low muscle strength was a stronger prognostic factor than low muscle mass in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary–pancreatic cancer. The study was published in the journal 'Nutrition.'

In patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary-pancreatic (HBP) cancers, Sarcopenia has been reported as a prognostic risk factor. Hence, researchers conducted a study to investigate whether the loss of muscle mass or the loss of strength is a stronger prognostic factor in GI & HBP cancers. Based on the survival outcome in patients with GI and HBP cancers, they explored the cutoff values of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength (HGS).

A retrospective analysis of 480 elderly patients with primary GI and HBP cancers who underwent their first resection surgery was done. All the participants were divided into four groups of appropriate SMI and HGS, low SMI alone, low HGS alone, and low SMI and HGS. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to derive the Low SMI and low HGS was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria.
Results:

Low SMI was a significant risk factor for mortality only in men, while the low HGS was significant in both sexes as per the Multivariate analysis.
Multivariate analysis of the four groups revealed that the low HGS alone and low SMI and HGS showed a significantly higher hazard ratio than appropriate SMI and HGS in both sexes.
SMI 7.21 kg/m2 and HGS 28 kg were obtained as cutoff values based on the 3-year survival outcomes in men.
Thus, the researchers concluded from the study that low muscle strength was a stronger prognostic factor than low muscle mass. Hence, they also suggested that it is necessary to measure muscle strength in all patients.
To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2022.111826
Nasu N, Yasui-Yamada S, Kagiya N, et al. Muscle strength is a stronger prognostic factor than muscle mass in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancers. Nutrition. Published online August 2022:111826.