The Relationship between Phase Angle, Nutrition Status, and Complications in Patients with Pancreatic Head Cancer

Abstract

Phase angle (PhA), a bioimpedance parameter, is used to assess the nutrition status and body composition of patients. Patients with pancreatic head cancer often present with body composition changes that relate to adverse outcomes. PhA may be useful to evaluate prognosis in these patients, but data are deficient. We aim to explore the effects of PhA on nutrition evaluation and short-term outcome prediction in these patients. This prospective study included 49 participants with pancreatic head cancer who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). All participants’ nutritional status and postoperative complications were assessed using nutrition assessment tools and the Clavien–Dindo classification method, respectively. Spearman correlation analyses were used to evaluate the association between PhA, nutrition status, and postoperative complications. ROC curves were generated to evaluate the ability of PhA to predict malnutrition and complications and to determine the cutoff value. The PhA values of the nutritional risk group and the malnourished group were significantly lower than those of the well-nourished group (p < 0.05). PhA positively correlated with patients’ nutrition status. Nineteen patients had postoperative complications, and the PhA value of the complication group was significantly lower than that of the non-complication group (4.94 vs. 5.47, p = 0.013). ROC curves showed that the cutoff point of PhA to predict malnutrition was 5.45 (AUC: 0.744), and the cutoff point of PhA to predict postoperative complications was 5.35 (AUC: 0.717). Our study indicates that PhA was associated with nutrition status and could be considered a nutrition assessment tool for pancreatic head cancer patients and predict the postoperative complications of these patients who have undergone PD.

The Role of Standardized Phase Angle in the Assessment of Nutritional Status and Clinical Outcomes in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…As a parameter derived from BIA, phase angle (PA) is an indicator of cell membrane health and integrity as well as of hydration and nutritional status, especially in cancer patients [ 27 , 28 ]. An increasing number of scholars have presented evidence that PA is positively related to nutritional status and clinical outcomes in cancer patients [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Low PA was shown to be related to impaired nutritional and functional status, decreased quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality [ 32 ].…”

Phase Angle and Postoperative Complications in a Model of Immunonutrition in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

“…In the studies of Zhou S. et al, it was found that the PA cut-off point for patients with pancreatic head cancer should be 5.45 • . PA values in malnourished patients were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) and correlated with the nutritional status of patients [28].…”

Phase angle at bioelectric impedance analysis is associated with detrimental sperm quality in idiopathic male infertility: a preliminary clinical study

“…Although the exact mechanism by which PA influences sperm parameters remains unclear, several hypotheses have been proposed. First, PA is employed to assess nutritional status and body composition based on the electrical properties of different tissues ( 35 ). Indeed, since electricity flows more easily through hydrated tissue, such as muscle, it is foreseeable that suitable PA values are predictors of better body composition ( 29 ).…”