The impact of acute skeletal muscle loss after gastrointestinal cancer surgery on physical function

INTRODUCTION

Significant skeletal muscle loss occurs commonly after cancer surgery; however, the impact of postoperative acute skeletal muscle loss on physical function remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of surgery-associated acute skeletal muscle wasting on physical function in the early postoperative period in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

DESIGN

A single-center retrospective observational study.

SETTING

General hospital.

PATIENTS

Hospitalized patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were admitted for surgery.

INTERVENTION

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome was the partial correlation between postoperative changes in skeletal muscle index (SMI) and physical function such as handgrip strength, gait speed, and 6-minute walk test.

RESULTS

A total of 69 patients (41 male and 28 female) with a mean age of 70.5 years were included. SMI was significantly correlated with physical function, such as handgrip strength (r = 0.757, p < .001), maximum gait speed (r = 0.318, p = .008), and 6-minute walk test (r = 0.365, p = .002) before surgery. In contrast, partial correlation analysis between the absolute changes in SMI and physical function after controlling for SMI and each physical function before surgery showed no significant correlation. Multivariable linear regression analyses also showed that postoperative change in SMI was not significantly associated with the postoperative change in physical function but it was associated with the length of stay after surgery, SMI at admission, and absolute change in body fat percentage.

CONCLUSIONS

The absolute change in SMI during the early postoperative period was not linearly correlated with the degree of decline in physical function. Further studies are necessary to investigate the effects of the respective changes in skeletal muscle mass and physical function on clinical outcomes.

Resistance Exercise After Laparoscopic Surgery Enhances Improvement in Exercise Tolerance in Geriatric Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer

INTRODUCTION

 Early mobilization after cancer surgery is generally recommended. However, the effects of postoperative resistance exercise during a hospital stay have been rarely investigated. This study aimed to clarify the effects of resistance exercise after laparoscopic surgery on exercise tolerance and skeletal muscle mass in geriatric patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective observational study included patients with gastrointestinal cancer who admitted for laparoscopic surgery. Exercise tolerance and skeletal muscle mass were assessed using a six-minute walking test (6MWT) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) at admission and discharge, respectively. Intergroup comparisons of absolute changes in 6MWT and SMI were analyzed by the unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test according to whether resistance exercise was performed or not. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to analyze the association of resistance exercise with changes in 6MWT and SMI. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, cancer stage, postoperative complication, and preoperative exercise tolerance and skeletal muscle mass.

RESULTS

Altogether, 66 patients (mean age 69.9 years; 60.6% men) were recruited. Of them, 72.7% performed the resistance exercise and started at a median of 4.5 postoperative days. There were no significant intergroup differences in absolute changes in the 6MWT and the SMI (p = 0.153, p = 0.476, respectively). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that resistance exercise was independently and positively associated with the 6MWT at discharge (β = 1.70, 95% confidence interval, 1.88 to 71.09) and did not significantly contribute to the SMI at discharge (95% confidence interval, -0.21 to 0.27).

CONCLUSION

Resistance exercise may enhance the improvement in postoperative exercise tolerance in geriatric patients with gastrointestinal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery.

The associations between nutritional status, physical function and skeletal muscle mass of geriatric patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Nutritional status is associated with physical function and body composition. However, these relationships in patients with colorectal cancer remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between nutritional status, physical function, and skeletal muscle mass in geriatric patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Preoperative patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. The correlations were calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and the intergroup differences in physical function and skeletal muscle mass between categories according to nutritional assessment were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

We recruited 127 patients (median age 71.0 years). Hand grip strength was correlated with geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) (male: p = 0.033; female: p = 0.014), albumin (male: p = 0.014; female: p = 0.003), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score (male: p = 0.004; female: p = 0.011) in both gender, and correlated with body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.027) in male patients. Psoas volume index (PVI) was positively correlated with BMI (male: p = 0.005; female: p < 0.001). In addition, intergroup comparisons for categories according to BMI showed PVI was significantly lower in the malnutrition category (male: p = 0.017; female: p < 0.001). Albumin and CONUT score were correlated with five-times sit-to-stand test (male: p = 0.011; female: p = 0.049, male: p = 0.031; female: p = 0.012, respectively) and short physical performance battery (male: p = 0.065; female: p = 0.028, male: p = 0.002; female: p = 0.006, respectively). Moreover, patients in lower albumin category had longer time on 5-times sit-to-stand test (male: p = 0.018; female: p = 0.009) and had lower scores on short physical performance battery (male: p = 0.027; female: p = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Hand grip strength correlated with various nutritional assessment tools, and PVI was correlated with BMI in particular. Five-times sit-to-stand test and short physical performance battery were correlated with serum albumin concentration and CONUT score. Physical function and skeletal muscle mass are associated with nutritional status, and hand grip strength might be more strongly associated with nutritional status.