Potential framework of the Global Leadership Initiative in Sarcopenia (GLIS) criteria based on muscle mass and/or strength for predicting survival in cancer patients: A nationwide multicenter cohort study

Abstract

Background: The Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia (GLIS) was proposed recently by creating a widely recognized conceptual definition of sarcopenia, however, the diagnostic framework of GLIS in cancer patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the potential framework of GLIS based on muscle mass and/or strength in cancer patients.

Methods: We performed a multicenter cohort study spanning from November 2012 to May 2020. Potential covariates were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses. The association between low muscle mass (LMM) and/or low muscle strength (LMS) with survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models. LMM was identified by lean mass index (LMI) or calf circumference (CC) while LMS was identified by hand grip strength (HGS).

Results: A total of 6471 cancer patients were included, with a median follow-up of 50.0 months. Both LMM-LMI or LMS (HR = 1.56; 95%CI: 1.42, 1.71; p < 0.001) and LMM-LMI plus LMS (HR = 2.01; 95%CI: 1.65, 2.44; p < 0.001) were associated with a lower overall survival (OS) compared with patients without sarcopenia. Similarly, both LMM-CC or LMS group (HR = 1.51; 95%CI: 1.37, 1.67; p < 0.001) and LMM-CC plus LMS group (HR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.28, 1.63; p < 0.001) were associated with a lower OS. Age, alcohol, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) score, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage, cancer category, albumin, direct bilirubin, anticancer therapy plus sex were introduced as covariates in fully-adjusted Cox model. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models revealed that LMM-LMI or LMS was an independent prognosis factor for cancer patients (HR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.31; p = 0.001). LMM-LMI plus LMS also was an independent predictor for survival among cancer patients (HR = 1.58; 95 % CI: 1.30, 1.94; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The potential framework of GLIS based on muscle mass and/or strength was associated with survival in Chinese cancer patients. This research provides a simplified, clinically outcome-driven potential framework of sarcopenia, and offers new insights for the development of an operational definition of GLIS in the future.

Keywords: Cancer mortality; Muscle mass; Muscle strength; Sarcopenia; The Global Leadership Initiative in Sarcopenia.