Muscle Strength Is Associated With Muscle Mass in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Awaiting Surgery. Issue 2 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Egmond, Maarten A.; van der Schaaf, Marike; Hagens, Eliza R. C.; van Laarhoven, Hanneke W. M.; van Berge Henegouwen, Mark I.; Haverkort, Elizabeth B.; Engelbert, Raoul H. H.; Gisbertz, Suzanne S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geriatric physical therapy. Volume 43:Issue 2(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: muscle mass -- muscle strength -- oncology -- physiotherapy -- sarcopenia; Physical therapy for older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Orientation and mobility -- Periodicals; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 615.820846
• DOI: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-8412

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose: Decreased muscle mass and muscle strength are independent predictors of poor postoperative recovery in patients with esophageal cancer. If there is an association between muscle mass and muscle strength, physiotherapists are able to measure muscle strength as an early predictor for poor postoperative recovery due to decreased muscle mass. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the association between muscle mass and muscle strength in predominantly older patients with esophageal cancer awaiting esophagectomy prior to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods: In patients with resectable esophageal cancer eligible for surgery between March 2012 and October 2015, we used computed tomographic scans to assess muscle mass and compared them with muscle strength measures (handgrip strength, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, 30 seconds chair stands test). We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients and determined associations by multivariate linear regression analysis. Results and Discussion: A tertiary referral center referred 125 individuals to physiotherapy who were eligible for the study; we finally included 93 individuals for statistical analysis. Multiple backward regression analysis showed that gender (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-33.82), weight (95% CI, 0.39-1.02), age (95% CI, −0.91 to −0.04), left handgrip strength (95% CI, 0.14-1.44), and inspiratory muscle strength (95% CI, 0.08-0.38) were all independently associated with muscle surface area at L3. All these variables together explained 66% of the variability ( R 2 ) in muscle surface area at L3 ( P < .01). Conclusions: This study shows an independent association between aspects of muscle strength and muscle mass in patients with esophageal cancer awaiting surgery, and physiotherapists could use the results to predict muscle mass on the basis of muscle strength in preoperative patients with esophageal cancer.