Exploratory Assessment of Nutritional Evaluation Tools as Predictors of Complications and Sarcopenia in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are largely malnourished, which decreases overall survival. In this study, we found that phase angle in patients with CRC, measured by BIA, had a good diagnostic accuracy for detecting cancer complications in females and the risk of sarcopenia in males. These sex bias differences are relevant to understanding the nutritional status of CRC patients and their personalized nutritional treatment. ABSTRACT: Background: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are largely malnourished, which decreases overall survival and treatment efficacy and increases mortality rates. We hypothesize that angle phase might be associated with the risk of sarcopenia as well as cancer complications in patients with CRC. The inclusion of various nutritional status indicators and clinical cancer outcomes can result in significant variability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to perform an exploratory analysis of nutritional evaluation tools used to assess body composition and muscle quality in patients with CRC, in order to predict cancer complications and survival rate. Methods: A total of 127 patients with CRC were included in this study. Bioelectrical impedance analysis and body composition were performed, which we used to obtain phase angle (PhA) values. Muscle function was assessed by hand-grip strength (HGS) and muscle quality and adipose tissue depot were performed using ultrasound techniques. Results: This study showed that there were significant differences in body composition between females and males, as well as in muscle quantity and quality. PhA was highly correlated with quadriceps rectus femoris of cross-sectional area (RF-CSA), circumference of quadriceps rectus femoris (RF-CIR), superficial subcutaneous abdominal fat (S-SAT), as well as HGS (p < 0.05). PhA was also correlated with water content in females, and with muscle mass and quality in males (p < 0.05). Specifically, we found that PhA was a good predictor for cancer complications in women and the risk of sarcopenia in men. In the linear model controlled for age and body mass index (BMI), high PhA value was associated with a decreased risk of complications in females (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03–0.81, p < 0.05). High PhA value was associated with a decreased risk of sarcopenia in males (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19–0.95, p < 0.05). In addition, Receiving Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed that PhA had a good diagnostic accuracy for detecting cancer complications in females (Area under curve (AUC) = 0.894, 95% CI: 0.88–0.89, p < 0.05) and the risk of sarcopenia in males (AUC = 0.959, 95% CI: 0.91–0.92, p < 0.05). Conclusions: PhA can accurately predict oncological complications in women and sarcopenia in men. These differences are relevant to understanding the nutritional status of patients with CRC and their personalized nutritional treatment.