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A simpler screening tool for sarcopenia in surgical patients
Onuma Chaiwat1,2, Mingkwan Wongyingsinn1, Weerasak Muangpaisan2,3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Plos One
|September 23, 2021
Summary
A simple screening tool combining muscle strength, physical performance, and nutritional status can effectively identify sarcopenia in older adult cancer patients, aiding in early intervention and management.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oncology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Sarcopenia, characterized by reduced muscle mass and function, poses a significant health concern in aging populations.
- Current methods for muscle mass assessment are often costly and lack portability, hindering widespread screening.
- Developing a practical screening tool for sarcopenia is crucial, especially in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a simple screening tool for sarcopenia in older adult cancer patients undergoing elective surgery.
- To validate the performance of this tool in accurately identifying sarcopenia.
Main Methods:
- The study enrolled 251 cancer surgical patients aged over 60 years.
- Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form.
- Sarcopenia was evaluated against the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, with appendicular skeletal muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Main Results:
- 34% of patients were diagnosed with sarcopenia.
- Malnutrition, underweight status, and increasing age were independent predictors of sarcopenia.
- A formula combining muscle strength, physical performance, and nutritional status demonstrated high sensitivity (81.0%), specificity (78.4%), and accuracy (79.3%).
Conclusions:
- Sarcopenia screening can be effectively performed using a simple, accessible tool.
- The developed screening formula, integrating muscle strength, physical performance, and nutritional status, exhibits excellent performance for preoperative sarcopenia detection.
