Oncotarget

Research Papers:

Skeletal muscle measures and physical function in older adults with cancer: sarcopenia or myopenia?

Grant R. Williams _, Allison M. Deal, Hyman B. Muss, Marc S. Weinberg, Hanna K. Sanoff, Kirsten A. Nyrop, Mackenzi Pergolotti and Shlomit Strulov Shachar

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Oncotarget. 2017; 8:33658-33665. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.16866

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Abstract

Grant R. Williams1,2, Allison M. Deal3, Hyman B. Muss2,3, Marc S. Weinberg2, Hanna K. Sanoff2,3, Kirsten A. Nyrop2,3, Mackenzi Pergolotti2,4, Shlomit Strulov Shachar2,5

1The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

2The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

3UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

4Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

5Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel

Correspondence to:

Grant R. Williams, email: [email protected]

Keywords: sarcopenia, myopenia, skeletal muscle index, cancer, geriatric oncology

Received: December 28, 2016     Accepted: March 25, 2017     Published: April 05, 2017

ABSTRACT

Background: Skeletal muscle loss, commonly known as sarcopenia, is highly prevalent in older adults and linked with adverse outcomes in cancer, yet the definition and role of sarcopenia remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to examine the association of Computerized Tomography (CT) assessed skeletal muscle measures with physical function in older adults with cancer.

Results: CTs for 185 patients were available. Median age 73 (IQR 68–76) and 56.5% female. After controlling for sex and BMI, we found no evidence that SMI was associated with physical function impairments. Both SMD and SMG were associated physical function impairments and higher values were associated with decreased limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (RR 0.84 [CI 0.73–0.96] and 0.94 [CI 0.89–0.99], respectively), climbing stairs (RR 0.84 [CI 0.76–0.94] and 0.91 [CI 0.87–0.96]), walking 1 block (RR 0.77 [CI 0.67–0.90] and 0.91 [CI 0.85–0.97]), and prolonged Timed Up and Go (RR 0.83 [CI 0.75–0.92] and 0.92 [CI 0.88–0.96]).

Materials and Methods: Using the Carolina Senior Registry, we identified patients with CT imaging performed within 60 days +/− of baseline geriatric assessment (GA). Skeletal muscle area and density (SMD) were analyzed from L3 lumbar segments. Muscle area and height (m2) were used to calculate skeletal muscle index (SMI). Skeletal Muscle Gauge (SMG) was created by multiplying SMI x SMD.

Conclusions: Skeletal muscle mass as assessed from CT imaging was not associated with physical function impairments. Skeletal muscle radiodensity was more associated with physical function and may aid in identifying older adults at risk for functional impairments.


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