Sarcopenia and associated risk factors in oncology outpatients in specialized cancer centers in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Sarcopenia is a comorbidity associated with cancer, which takes advantage of a patient’s deteriorating state and decreases the survival rate. Thus, early detection of sarcopenia could improve oncology outpatient prognosis, treatment, and general quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of probable sarcopenia and the associated risk factors in patients with cancer. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 324 cancer patients were screened for sarcopenia using a simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia [SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls)] and a hand grip dynamometer tool. The study was conducted from 1 January 2021 till 28 February 2021, in the outpatient department of Princess Noorah Oncology Center. RESULTS: Among 324 cancer patients receiving active chemotherapy treatment, 28.4% screened positive for sarcopenia (SARC-F score ≥4). Moreover, 23.45% were identified as probable cases [SARC-F score ≥4 and a low hand grip strength (HGS)] of sarcopenia, according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People consensus 2 (EWGSOP2) case-finding algorithm, which is sufficient to initiate a management plan. CONCLUSIONS: One-quarter of the cancer patients had probable sarcopenia at our institution. Sarcopenia risk was independently associated with patient age, and the risk of sarcopenia was low among patients with higher albumin concentrations. Screening cancer patients for sarcopenia using the SARC-F questionnaire and HGS may offer a useful strategy to mitigate the risk of unfavorable consequences that may occur during cancer treatment.