Association between nutritional status and muscle strength in pediatric cancer patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS\nCancer provides a catabolic state, leading to weight loss and depletion of lean mass, which is accompanied by loss of muscle strength in pediatric patients. Muscle strength is considered a predictor of nutritional status. The aim was to evaluate the association between nutritional status and muscle strength in pediatric cancer patients hospitalized at the Cancer Hospital I.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA cross-sectional study was carried out with cancer patients aged 6-19 years hospitalized in the period from February to November 2019. In the first 48\xa0h of hospitalization, anthropometric (body weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference - MUAC, tricipital skinfold - TSF, calculated body mass index - BMI and mid-arm muscle circumference - MAMC) and handgrip strength (HGS) assessments were performed. The statistical analysis for the data correlation was performed using Pearson s coefficient, linear regression, and association by χ2 test. The HGS values were distributed in quartiles. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe sample consisted of 63 patients, 52.40% male and 47.60% female. The mean age was 13.01 (±3.83; 6.20-19.78) years. The frequency of adequate BMI was 45.60% and the mean HGS was 17.10\xa0kg (±8.93). There was a strong positive correlation between HGS and MAMC and weight (r\xa0=\xa00.743; p\xa0<\xa00,001 and r\xa0=\xa00.706; p\xa0<\xa00,001, respectively), and association with MAMC independently of age and sex. According to quartile distribution, the lowest HGS quartile also showed association with below adequate MAMC (p\xa0=\xa00.005).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThese results showed muscle strength was associated with nutritional status and low muscle strength was associated with low muscle mass, independently of age and sex.