The obesity paradox for mid- and long-term mortality in older cancer patients: a prospective multicenter cohort study

The age-related obesity paradigm: results from two large prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

The obesity paradigm has been a health concern globally for many years, its meaning is controversial. In this study, we assess the characteristics and causes of obesity paradigm and detail the mediation of obesity and inflammation on survival.

METHODS

The original cohort included participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, a prospective cohort of a nationally representative sample of adult participants; the oncology validation cohort included patients from the Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) from 2013 to 2021, a prospective cohort of Chinese patients with cancer. Survival analysis was performed using weighted (NHANES) or unweighted (INSCOC) Cox survival analyses. The normal BMI group was used as a reference for all comparisons. Systemic inflammation was defined as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 3. Model-based causal mediation analysis was used to identify the mediators.

RESULTS

A total of 52 270 (weighted population: 528506229) participants of the NHANES [mean follow-up times: 10.2 years; mean age (SD): 47 (19.16) years] were included in the original cohort; and a total of 17 418 patients with cancer of INSCOC [mean follow-up times: 2.9 years; mean age (SD): 57.37 (11.66) years] were included in the validation cohort. In the subgroups of all the participants, the obesity paradigm was more apparent in older participants and participants with disease [HR (95% CI): age ≥ 65 years, 0.84 (0.76, 0.93); with cancer, 0.84 (0.71, 0.99); with CVD, 0.74 (0.65, 0.85)]. As aged, the protective effect of a high BMI on survival gradually increased and a high BMI showed the effect of a protective factor on older participants [for obese II, HR (95% CI): young adults, 1.91 (1.40, 2.62); middle age, 1.56 (1.28, 1.91); old adults, 0.85 (0.76, 0.96]). The aged-related obesity paradigm in patients with cancer from the NHANES was verified in the INSCOC cohorts [for obese, HR (95%CI): 0.65 (0.52, 0.81)]. The NLR is an important mediator of the effect of BMI on survival (proportion of mediation = 15.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The obesity paradigm has a strong correlation with age. Relative to normal weight, obese in young people was association with higher all-cause mortality, and obese in elderly people was not association with higher mortality. The protection of obesity is association with systemic inflammation.

Individualized threshold of the involuntary weight loss in prognostic assessment of cancer

BACKGROUND

Involuntary weight loss (WL) is a common symptom in cancer patients and is associated with poor outcomes. However, there is no standardized definition of WL, and it is unclear what magnitude of weight loss should be considered significant for prognostic purposes. This study aimed to determine an individualized threshold for WL that can be used for prognostic assessment in cancer patients.

METHODS

Univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) were performed using Cox proportional hazard models. The Kaplan-Meier method was performed to estimate the survival distribution of different WL levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between WL and 90-day outcomes. Restricted cubic splines with three knots were used to examine the effects of WL on survival under different body mass index (BMI) conditions.

RESULTS

Among the 8806 enrolled patients with cancer, median survival time declined as WL increased, from 25.1 to 20.1, 17.8 and 16.4 months at <2%, 2-5%, 5-10% and ≥10% WL, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of adverse prognosis increased by 18.1% based on the SD of WL (5.45 U) (HR: 1.181, 95% CI: 1.144-1.219, P < 0.001). Similarly, categorical WL was independently associated with OS in patients with cancer. With the worsening of WL, the risk of a poor prognosis in patients increases stepwise. Compared with <2% WL, all-cause mortalities were 15.1%, 37% and 64.2% higher in 2-5%, 5-10%, and ≥10% WL, respectively. WL can effectively stratify the prognosis of both overall and site-specific cancers. The clinical prognostic thresholds for WL based on different BMI levels were 4.21% (underweight), 5.03% (normal), 6.33% (overweight), and 7.60% (obese). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that WL was independently associated with 90-day outcomes in patients with cancer. Compared with patients with <2% WL, those with ≥10% WL had more than twice the risk of 90-day outcomes (OR: 3.277, 95% CI: 2.287-4.694, P < 0.001). Systemic inflammation was a cause of WL deterioration. WL mediates 6.3-10.3% of the overall association between systemic inflammation and poor prognoses in patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

An individualized threshold for WL based on baseline BMI can be used for prognostic assessment in cancer patients. WL and BMI should be evaluated simultaneously in treatment decision-making, nutritional intervention, and prognosis discussions of patients with cancer.

Association between overweight, obesity, and quality of life of patients receiving an anticancer treatment for prostate cancer: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) and obesity are two ever-increasing public health issues that can independently impair the quality of life (QOL) of affected patients. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of overweight and obesity on the QOL of patients with PCa receiving an anticancer treatment.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the literature using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search equation targeted studies that included PCa patients who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m², who were receiving anticancer therapy, and whose QOL was analyzed according to validated or non-validated scores.

RESULTS

Of 759 identified articles, we selected 20 studies published between 2000 and 2019 of 12,529 patients treated for PCa, including 5549 overweight or obese patients. QOL assessment was performed using nine validated scales and two non-validated questionnaires. Of seven studies on radiotherapy, six found obesity to have a negative impact on patients' QOL (especially urinary, sexual, and bowel-related QOL). Thirteen studies assessed the QOL of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with a BMI > 25 kg/m² having no observed impact. In obese patients under 65 years of age and without comorbidities, nerve-sparing surgery appeared to limit the deterioration of QOL. Four studies on brachytherapy found discordant results. One study showed greater QOL impairment in obese patients receiving first-generation hormone therapy than in those with normal or decreased BMI. No study evaluated the QOL of overweight or obese patients receiving other types of systemic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Based on the published data, the level of evidence for an association between QOL and overweight or obesity in patients treated for PCa is not high. Prospective cohort studies including this type of patient population are warranted to answer this topical public health issue.

Association of Body Mass Index with Long-Term All-Cause Mortality in Patients Who Had Undergone a Vertebroplasty for a Vertebral Compression Fracture

We aimed to investigate the association between preoperative body mass index (BMI) and postoperative long-term mortality in patients who underwent a vertebroplasty. We retrospectively enrolled patients with a vertebral compression fracture who underwent a vertebroplasty between May 2013 and June 2020 in a medical center in Taiwan. The survival status of the study sample was confirmed by the end of March 2021. Cox-proportional hazard models were conducted to examine the effects of being overweight/obese (≥25 kg/m2 vs. <25 kg/m2) and BMI (as a continuous variable) on all-cause mortality after adjusting for age, sex, history of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and osteoporosis. A total of 164 patients were analyzed (mean age 75.8 ± 9.3 years, male 25.6%, mean BMI 24.0 ± 4.1 kg/m2) after a median follow-up of 785 days. Compared with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.297, 95% CI 0.101 to 0.878, p = 0.028). These findings were consistent when BMI was examined as a continuous variable (HR 0.874, 95% CI 0.773 to 0.988, p = 0.031). A low BMI (<22 kg/m2) should be considered as a risk factor for postoperative long-term mortality in this ageing population.

Perirenal Fat Thickness Significantly Associated with Prognosis of Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Patients Receiving Anti-VEGF Therapy

Although high body mass index (BMI) was reported to associate with a better prognosis for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, it is an imperfect proxy for the body composition, especially in Asian patients with a lower BMI. The role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and perirenal fat thickness (PRFT) in mRCC patients was still unknown. Therefore, a multicenter retrospective study of 358 Chinese mRCC patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy was conducted and their body composition was measured via computed tomography. We parameterized VAT, SAT and PRFT according to their median value and BMI according to Chinese criteria (overweight: BMI ≥ 24). We found VAT, SAT, and PRFT (all p < 0.05) but not BMI, significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate Cox analysis identified PRFT was the independent predictor of OS and PFS, and IMDC expanded with PRFT showed the highest C-index in predicting OS (OS:0.71) compared with VAT, SAT, and BMI. PRFT could increase the area under the curve of the traditional International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) model in OS (70.54% increase to 74.71%) and PFS (72.22% increase to 75.03%). PRFT was introduced to improve the IMDC model and PRFT-modified IMDC demonstrated higher AIC in predicting OS and PFS compared with the traditional IMDC model. Gene sequencing analysis (n = 6) revealed that patients with high PRFT had increased angiogenesis gene signatures (NES = 1.46, p = 0.04) which might explain why better drug response to anti-VEGF therapy in mRCC patients with high PRFT. The main limitation is retrospective design. This study suggests body composition, especially PRFT, is significantly associated with prognosis in Chinese mRCC patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy. PRFT-modified IMDC model proposed in this study has better clinical predictive value.

Impact on the Nutritional Status and Inflammation of Patients with Cancer Hospitalized after the SARS-CoV-2 Lockdown

Many studies have demonstrated that malnutrition has a negative impact on quality of life and mortality in patients with cancer. During the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown, dietary intake changes were detected in the Spanish population, reflecting an increase in the consumption of fruit, bread, flours, and eggs. The present study analyzed the nutritional status of 728 patients with cancer admitted once the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown finished, comparing it with the previous year as well as with mortality rates. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was applied in the first 24 h after admission. Age, gender, days of stay, circulating concentrations of albumin, cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), lymphocytes, prealbumin, and mortality data were analyzed. Patients with cancer admitted between June and December of 2020 exhibited no statistical differences in BMI, age, or gender as compared to patients admitted in 2019. Statistically significant differences in nutritional status (p < 0.05), albumin (p < 0.001), and CRP (p = 0.005) levels regarding lockdown were observed in relation with a small non-significant reduction in mortality. In conclusion, following the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown, an improved nutritional status in cancer patients at admission was observed with a decrease in the percentage of weight loss and CRP levels together with an increase in albumin levels compared to oncological patients admitted the previous year.

Several anthropometric measurements and cancer mortality: predictor screening, threshold determination, and joint analysis in a multicenter cohort of 12138 adults

BACKGROUND

Anthropometric measurements (AMs) are cost-effective surrogates for evaluating body size. This study aimed to identify the optimal prognostic AMs, their thresholds, and their joint associations with cancer mortality.

METHODS

We performed an observational cohort study including 12138 patients with cancer at five institutions in China. Information on demographics, disease, nutritional status, and AMs, including the body mass index, mid-arm muscle circumference, mid-arm circumference, handgrip strength, calf circumference (CC), and triceps-skinfold thickness (TSF), was collected and screened as mortality predictors. The optimal stratification was used to determine the thresholds to categorize those prognostic AMs, and their associations with mortality were estimated independently and jointly by calculating multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

The study included 5744 females and 6394 males with a mean age of 56.9 years. The CC and TSF were identified as better mortality predictors than other AMs. The optimal thresholds were women 30 cm and men 32.8 cm for the CC, and women 21.8 mm and men 13.6 mm for the TSF. Patients in the low CC or low TSF group had a 13% (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.23) and 22% (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.12-1.32) greater mortality risk compared with their normal CC/TSF counterparties, respectively. Concurrent low CC and low TSF showed potential joint effect on mortality risk (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.25-1.55).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the importance of assessing the CC and TSF simultaneously in hospitalized cancer patients to guide interventions to optimize their long-term outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics, Care Trajectories and Mortality Rate of SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cancer Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Simple Summary

COVID-19 may be more frequent and more severe in cancer patients than in other individuals. Our aims were to assess the rate of COVID-19 in hospitalized cancer patients, to describe their demographic characteristics, clinical features and care trajectories, and to assess the mortality rate. A total of 1148 hospitalized patients were included. The mortality rate was 33%. In multivariate analysis, mortality-related factors were male sex, advanced age, more than two comorbidities, C-reactive protein >20 ng/mL, primary brain tumors and lung cancer. Risk of dying was lower among patients with metabolic comorbidities.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 may be more frequent and more severe in cancer patients than in other individuals. Our aims were to assess the rate of COVID-19 in hospitalized cancer patients, to describe their demographic characteristics, clinical features and care trajectories, and to assess the mortality rate. Methods: This multicenter cohort study was based on the Electronic Health Records of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP). Cancer patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between 3 March and 19 May 2020 were included. Main outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: A total of 29,141 cancer patients were identified and 7791 (27%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 1359 (17%) were COVID-19-positive and 1148 (84%) were hospitalized; 217 (19%) were admitted to an intensive care unit. The mortality rate was 33% (383 deaths). In multivariate analysis, mortality-related factors were male sex (aHR = 1.39 [95% CI: 1.07–1.81]), advanced age (78–86 y: aHR = 2.83 [95% CI: 1.78–4.51] vs. <66 y; 86–103 y: aHR = 2.61 [95% CI: 1.56–4.35] vs. <66 y), more than two comorbidities (aHR = 2.32 [95% CI: 1.41–3.83]) and C-reactive protein >20 ng/mL (aHR = 2.20 [95% CI: 1.70–2.86]). Primary brains tumors (aHR = 2.19 [95% CI: 1.08–4.44]) and lung cancer (aHR = 1.66 [95% CI: 1.02–2.70]) were associated with higher mortality. Risk of dying was lower among patients with metabolic comorbidities (aHR = 0.65 [95% CI: 0.50–0.84]). Conclusions: In a hospital-based setting, cancer patients with COVID-19 had a high mortality rate. This mortality was mainly driven by age, sex, number of comorbidities and presence of inflammation. This is the first cohort of cancer patients in which metabolic comorbidities were associated with a better outcome.

Clinical Impact of a Perioperative Exercise Program for Sarcopenia and Overweight/Obesity Gastric Cancer

Gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and perioperative adjuvant treatment is the standard treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer. However, the morality rate is reported to be 20%-40% after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Perioperative sarcopenia and obesity are strongly related to postoperative surgical complications after gastrectomy. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that postoperative surgical complications are related to long-term oncological outcomes. If we can prevent or improve perioperative sarcopenia or obesity in gastric cancer patients, the rate of postoperative surgical complications in these patients might be reduced, thereby improving the long-term oncological outcomes. Given this hypothesis, recent studies have focused on enacting perioperative exercise programs for gastric cancer patients with sarcopenia and overweight/obesity. Such exercise programs have proven promising and demonstrated some clinical benefits for gastric cancer patients with sarcopenia and overweight/obesity. However, whether or not perioperative exercise programs have clinical benefits with regard to long-term oncological outcomes in gastric cancer patients is unclear. To optimize these perioperative exercise programs for gastric cancer patients, it is necessary to clarify the benefits with regard to the long-term oncological outcomes in these patients and establish an optimal perioperative exercise program.