Work

Impact of Preoperative Weight Loss on Muscle Mass and Function in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Patients with colorectal cancer often experience significant weight loss, primarily involving a loss of muscle mass, which is directly linked to increased complications in oncological treatment, whether systemic or surgical. In patients undergoing colorectal resection, myopenia (low muscle mass) and muscle weakness (low function) are associated with longer hospitalization, anastomotic complications, a higher risk of infection at the surgical site, poorer quality of life, and higher morbidity and mortality. Bioimpedance (BIA) is commonly used in studies as a good parameter for evaluating muscle mass. Additionally, handgrip strength (HGS) is one of the most used methods for assessing muscle strength and function. Objective To correlate preoperative weight loss and the impact of muscle mass loss in colorectal cancer patients with postoperative clinical outcomes. Method This multicenter study was approved by the Ethics Committees of the partnering institutions. Non-metastatic patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were recruited during their preoperative consultation. Bioimpedance, anthropometry, handgrip strength, and laboratory tests were performed on 16 patients of both sexes. The patients were divided into two groups: those with weight loss and those with stable weight. After the surgical procedure, data related to hospitalization time and postoperative complications, classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, were collected. Results The included patients had a mean age of 67.75±12.04 years. Patients with preoperative weight loss had a smaller calf circumference (p=0.034), lower handgrip strength (p=0.034), lower hematocrit (p=0.0593), and leucocytosis (p=0.0593) at the time of surgery, compared to the stable weight group. We observed a correlation between phase angle (PA) and muscle mass and PA and body mass index (p=0.986 and p=0.006, respectively) in the weight loss group. No statistical difference was found regarding body fat, tumor staging, or Clavien-Dindo classification when compared to the stable weight group. Conclusion Our results suggest that preoperative weight loss may lead to a decrease in muscle mass, reduced muscle strength and function, and increased immune system activation, which can impact the prognosis of these patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate the robustness and significance of these findings. Publication History Article published online: 25 April 2025 © 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

Source: Journal of Coloproctology

DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1808859