Phase angle as a nutritional assessment method in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a cross-sectional study

The phase angle, which is associated with cellular health, has garnered increasing attention as a noninvasive and objective method for nutritional assessment. However, the association between malnutrition and phase angle in patients with acute myeloid leukemia remains unreported. Therefore, this study investigated this association in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and established a cut-off phase angle for identifying malnutrition.

This cross-sectional study retrospectively analysed the data of 74 inpatients with acute myeloid leukemia (66.21% male; mean age, 52.68 ± 16.31 years). Nutritional status was assessed via the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Bioelectrical impedance analysis was employed to measure phase angles.

The phase angle was negatively associated with malnutrition (B = -0.436; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that a low skeletal muscle index (SMI) (p = 0.016, OR = 5.021, 95% CI 1.347-18.716) and hemoglobin deficiency (p = 0.009, OR = 6.133, 95% CI 1.582-23.770) were risk factors for a low phase angle (PA) in acute myeloid leukemia inpatients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.705. The cut-off phase angle for identifying malnutrition was 3.65° (sensitivity, 0.926; specificity, 0.553).

The phase angle may serve as a supplementary indicator of malnutrition in inpatients with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly when the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) is not feasible. These findings may aid in the formulation of nutritional strategies for these patients.