PREVALENCE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY DETERMINED SARCOPENIA IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL MALIGNANCY: A HOSPITAL BASED PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN SUB HIMALAYAN REGION

Dr. Ishan Barotra*, Dr. Ashish Katoch, Dr. Puneet Mahajan and Dr. Rashpal Singh Thakur

ABSTRACT

Background: Gastrointestinal malignancy remains a disease with poor survival and many complications. Sarcopenia or muscle wasting is a component of cachexia associated with poor postoperative performance status. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) calculated by computed tomography scans at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in gastrointestinal malignancy patients using computed tomography. Methods: A hospital based prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery of a tertiary care hospital in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. All patients who reported to Department of Surgery during the study period of 1st September 2021 to 30th September 2022 with diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy (esophagus, stomach, colorectal) were considered for the study. Results: Ninety Eight patients with the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy (esophagus, stomach, colorectal) were included in the study. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 41.84% (41 patients) based on EWGSOP2 (The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2) recommendations. Patients had a mean age of 59.56± 14.16 years. Sarcopenia was detected in 41(41.84%) patients based on EWGSOP2 (The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2) recommendations. The mean age was 63.63 years in the sarcopenic group (SG) and 55.49 years in the non-sarcopenic group (NSG). The mean serum albumin levels in sarcopenic group was 3.20±.55(g/dl) and in patients without sarcopenia was 3.30±.54(g/dl).The mean SMI(Skeletal Muscle Index) was 46.27±8.13 cm²/m² and 4.29±8.05 cm²/m² in the SG and NSG, respectively. The mean body mass index (BMI) in all patients was (20.19 ± 2.85 kg/m2). Conclusions: Prevalence of sarcopenia was 41.84% (41 patients) based on EWGSOP2 (The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2) recommendations in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy (esophagus, stomach, colorectal).

Keywords: Sarcopenia_Prevalence_ gastrointestinal malignancy _Sub Himalayan Region.