Abstract

Author(s): Silva, Tatiane de Oliveira1; Peixoto, Manuella Italiano1; Santos, Cláudia Mota1; Andrade, Maria Izabel Siqueira2; Vasconcelos, Andréa Araújo3; Melo, Larissa Santana3

Introduction: the cancer and its treatment are involved in loss of skeletal muscle, reduction in strength and muscular performance, parameters characterize sarcopenia, parameters that are not included in the routine evaluation of cancer patients.

Objectives: to evaluate the muscle mass, strength and performance of cancer patients and its relationship with traditional methods of nutritional assessment.

Methods: including cancer patients, of both sexes and age between 20 and 81 years. The muscle mass was estimated by a predictive equation and evaluated by muscle mass index, muscle strength assessed by peak expiratory flow, and functional capacity by the Timed-Up-and-Go test. Those with insufficient muscle mass associated with insufficient strength and/or physical performance were considered as sarcopenic. The possible correlation of the anthropometric and subjective indicators with the diagnostic parameters of sarcopenia was also evaluated.

Results: 68 individuals participated, predominantly females and breast cancer. All of the women presented adequate muscle mass, but 8 of the 12 men had insufficient mass and 91.6% of them had insufficient peak expiratory flow. The performance was insufficient in 60,2% of the individuals. Muscle mass index correlated with arm and calf circumference, arm muscle circumference and area and body mass index.

Conclusion: These findings reinforce that damage to the mass, strength and physical performance should be considered in the oncologic patient, and anthropometry may be an ally in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.