SARC-CalF-assessed risk of sarcopenia and associated factors in cancer patients

Introduction: sarcopenia is considered a risk factor for cancer patients, as it increases mortality and post-surgical complications, and reduces response to treatment and quality of life. Objective: to identify the risk of sarcopenia by SARC-CalF, as well as the factors associated with this outcome in patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and adnexal glands. Methods: this cross-sectional study included patients with cancer of the GIT and adnexal glands, without edema or ascites, of both sexes and aged ≥ 20 years. Conventional anthropometric variables and handgrip strength (HGS) were measured. The risk of sarcopenia was assessed through the SARC-CalF questionnaire, and nutritional status by the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). The data analysis was performed using the SPSS® software, 22.0, with a significance of 5 %. Results: seventy patients took part in the study. Of these, 55.7 % were female, 52.9 % were aged over 60 years, and 64.3 % were non-white. PG-SGA identified 50.0 % of patients as well-nourished and 50.0 % as having some degree of malnutrition. The prevalence of risk of sarcopenia was 28.6 %. There were different correlations between the SARC-CalF score and anthropometric variables (p < 0.05) according to life stage (adults and elderly). After a linear regression analysis the measures that most influenced the SARC-CalF score were arm circumference (AC) and adductor pollicis muscle thickness in the dominant hand (DAPMT) for adults, while for the elderly current weight and DAPTM (p < 0.05) were more relevant. Conclusion: SARC-CalF identified 28.6 % of patients at risk for sarcopenia and was associated with body weight and anthropometric variables indicative of muscle reserve in adults and the elderly.