Selected Body Composition Parameters Analysis Based on Bioelectrical Impedance in Patients Operated for Gastrointestinal Cancer

Abstract

Background/Aim: Bioelectrical ImpedanceAnalysis is a method that evaluates body composition, useful in assessing the nutritional status of cancer patients. The analysis of its indicators may be helpful in predicting clinical course. The aim of the study was to evaluate the following body composition parameters: fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), muscle mass index (MMI), visceral fat (VF) and body mass index (BMI) measured before and after surgery in patients with gastrointestinal cancer and to determine the relationship between body composition and the course of treatment. Patients and Methods: The study included 125 patients, aged 65-68, operated on due to gastric, pancreatic or colorectal cancer. Body composition was assessed with electrical bioimpedance before and on the fifth postoperative day. The severity of complications was assessed with the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: In the whole group of patients, the percentage of FM, VF, and BMI levels measured before surgery were significantly higher in curative surgery patients in comparison to palliative surgery patients, p<0.001. The MMI value was also significantly higher, p=0.045. In patients after curative surgery, the values of BMI and FM significantly decreased (BMI -p<0.001; FM -p=0.003) after the surgery. There was no relation between body composition parameters and severity of postoperative complications. Conclusion: In the investigated group, body composition differed between radical and palliative surgery groups. Surgery with curative intent produced more changes in body composition parameters in the early postoperative period than palliative surgery. These observations may be helpful in prehabilitation planning for such patients.Body composition analysis with use of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is increasingly adapted in clinical practice alongside computed tomography. Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) experts recommend bioimpedance measurements in the phenotypic and etiological criteria determining the nutritional status (1). BIA is a non-invasive method; its advantages are its low cost and easy measurements. The accuracy of estimating body mass composition in relation to the reference values has been confirmed by numerous studies (2-5). Using this method, it is possible to determine parameters such as: adipose and lean tissue, muscle and visceral fat tissue, total, intra, and extracellular water contained in the body, and cellular body mass.This method can be used to compare the patient's body composition at different stages of surgical treatment, which may be a prognostic factor for the occurrence of postoperative complications (6). In patients with cancer, especially gastrointestinal cancer, there are frequent eating disorders that negatively affect the functioning of the body, the activity of the immune system, and postoperative recovery (7). As there is still no consensus regarding the optimal body composition testing method, the use of analysis based on bioimpedance along with t...

Recent Advances in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Strategies to Optimise the Perioperative Nutritional Status in Pancreatoduodenectomy Patients

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MalnutritiOn assessment with biOelectrical impedaNce analysis in gastRic cancer patIentS undergoing multimodaltrEatment (MOONRISE)—Study protocol for a single-arm multicenter cross-sectional longitudinal study

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