SARCOPENIA AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to explore the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical, biochemical factors in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. Specifically, the study focused on the role of BMI in assessing sarcopenia risk in this patient population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 68 patients with HNC undergoing chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital. Inclusion criteria included confirmed diagnosis of HNC, active chemotherapy treatment, availability of clinical and biochemical data, and voluntary consent to participate. Data were collected on clinical factors (age, gender, BMI, ECOG status), Complete Blood Count and biochemical markers (lymphocytes, hemoglobin, albumin, potassium, sodium, chloride, creatinine, AST, ALT). Sarcopenia was assessed using the AWGS 2019 criteria. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associations between sarcopenia and clinical/biochemical variables.

Results: The mean age of participants was 58.12 ± 12.25 years, with males comprising 76.5% of the cohort. The average BMI was 21.13 ± 3.44 kg/m². Sarcopenia prevalence was 51.5% overall, with rates of 100% in patients with BMI < 18.5, 54.1% in those with BMI 18.5–23, and 5.9% in BMI ≥ 23. Logistic regression revealed a significant inverse association between BMI and sarcopenia (p = 0.005, OR = 0.60), indicating that lower BMI strongly predicts sarcopenia. Other factors such as age, gender, and albumin levels showed no significant association.

Conclusion: The study underscores that BMI, while unable to differentiate fat mass from lean mass, remains a practical and valuable tool for monitoring sarcopenia in HNC patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nutritional interventions to maintain an optimal BMI could mitigate sarcopenia risk, thereby improving treatment outcomes and overall prognosis in this vulnerable population.