Sarcopenia en pacientes oncológicos en tratamiento Quimioterápico / Sarcopenia in oncological patients in chemotherapy Treatment

RESUMEN La sarcopenia se caracteriza por la tríada de reducción de masa muscular en asociación con reducción de la fuerza muscular y/o desempeño físico. Entre las enfermedades crónicas, el cáncer se configura como una condición relacionada al desarrollo de la sarcopenia, debido a la condición inflamatoria, al catabolismo proteico y a la inapetencia alimentaria atribuida a los diversos efectos colaterales del tratamiento de quimioterapia. Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de sarcopenia en pacientes oncológicos en tratamiento quimioterapéutico. Método: Estudio transversal realizado con pacientes de ambos sexos, en un hospital universitario del nordeste brasileño. Se determinó la sarcopenia a través de la circunferencia muscular del brazo (percentil <10); fuerza de prensión palmar: <20 kg/f y < 30 kg/f para mujeres y hombres ancianos respectivamente, menor tercil: <28,7kg/f y <15,6 kg/f para hombres y mujeres adultas respectivamente y velocidad de marcha (<0.8 m/s). Se evaluaron las variables de asociación, como datos sociodemográficos, estilo de vida, clínico y antropométrico. Resultados: La muestra fue compuesta por 117 pacientes, con edad promedio 60,5 ±13,2 años con prevalencia del sexo femenino (el 59,8%). Se verificó una prevalencia de sarcopenia del 27,4%, y se observó que el 53,1% tenían sarcopenia severa. Los ancianos fueron los más sarcopénicos (p= 0,003). Se encontró también una asociación positiva con el estado nutricional (p<0,001). Conclusión: La prevalencia de la sarcopenia fue significativa y semejante a otros estados, siendo más prevalentes en los pacientes desnutridos y ancianos.

ABSTRACT Sarcopenia is characterized by the triad of reduced muscle mass in association with reduced muscle strength and / or physical performance. Among chronic diseases, cancer is a condition related to the development of sarcopenia because of, among other factors, inflammation, protein catabolism and loss of appetite attributed to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. Objective: To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with patients of both sexes, in a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil. Sarcopenia was determined by arm circumference (percentile <10); hand grip strength (<20 kg/f and <30 kg/f for women and men, respectively; lowest tertile: <28.7 kg/f and <15.6 kg/f for men and women, respectively) and gait velocity (<0.8 m/s). Sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical and anthropometric variables were also evaluated. Results: The sample consisted of 117 patients (59.8% female), with a mean age of 60.5 ± 13.2 years. There was a prevalence of sarcopenia of 27.4% and 53.1% had severe sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was more common in older participants (p= 0.003). There was also a positive association with nutritional status (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia was significant and similar to other studies, being more prevalent in undernourished and elderly participants.

Fragilidad en ancianos oncológicos en tratamiento con quimioterapia / Frailty in elderly oncology patients in chemotherapy treatment

RESUMEN Los ancianos están más expuestos al desarrollo del cáncer, pues el envejecimiento deja las células más susceptibles a la transformación maligna. Identificar la fragilidad puede contribuir a mejorar resultados en el tratamiento antineoplásico. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar la prevalencia y grado de fragilidad en ancianos oncológicos en tratamiento con quimioterapia e investigar factores asociados al síndrome. Se incluyeron pacientes ≥60 años en nivel ambulatorio. La fragilidad se evaluó a partir del fenotipo desarrollado en la Universidad Johns Hopkins. El nivel de significancia adoptado para todas las pruebas fue menor que p<0,05. De la muestra de 60 individuos, el 55,0% era hombres, con promedio de edad 69,8±7,6. Entre los pacientes evaluados, el 66,7% presentaron fragilidad y el 33,3% pre-fragilidad. Las mujeres fueron más frágiles (81,5% vs 54,5%; p= 0,028) y la fragilidad tendió a ser mayor entre los caquécticos (81,8% vs 57,9%; p= 0,051). Concluimos que hubo un porcentaje elevado de pacientes frágiles y pre-frágiles. El sexo femenino y el sedentarismo se presentaron como factores asociados.

ABSTRACT The elderly are more at risk for developing cancer, as aging leaves cells more susceptible to malignant transformations. Identifying frailty can contribute to improved outcomes in antineoplastic treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and degree of frailty in elderly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and investigate factors associated with this syndrome. Ambulatory patients> 60 years were included. Frailty was assessed from the phenotype developed by Johns Hopkins University. The significance level adopted for all tests was p<0.05. From the sample of 60 individuals, 55.0% were men, with mean age 69.8 ± 7.6. Among the patients evaluated, 66.7% presented frailty, and 33.3% pre-frailty. Women were more frail (81.5% vs 54.5%; p= 0.028) and frailty tended to be higher among cachectic patients (81.8% vs 57.9%; p= 0.051). We concluded that there was an elevated percentage of frail and pre-frail patients. Female sex and sedentarism were associated factors.

Avaliação antropométrica de crianças em creches do município de Bezerros, PE / Anthropometric evaluation of children from day care centers in the municipality of Bezerros, Pernambuco, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o estado nutricional de crianças matriculadas em creches da rede pública de ensino do município de Bezerros, Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal que analisou os indicadores antropométricos de 735 crianças com idade entre um e sete anos (70 por cento das matrículas do ano letivo de 2008 no município). Para classificação do estado nutricional, foram utilizados os índices estatura/idade (E/I) e peso/estatura (P/E), expressos em valores de escore Z com base na curva do CDC (2000). O software utilizado para análise dos dados foi o Epi-Info, versão 6,04. RESULTADOS: Das crianças estudadas, 53,7 por cento eram do sexo masculino e 72,7 por cento provenientes de creches situadas em área urbana. A avaliação nutricional apontou uma prevalência de déficit nutricional de 6,8 e 0,7 por cento segundo os índices E/I e P/E, respectivamente. A prevalência de obesidade segundo o P/E foi de 6,1 por cento. Houve maior prevalência de baixa estatura entre as crianças do sexo feminino e risco para baixa estatura para o sexo masculino. Não foram observadas diferenças no estado nutricional das crianças de creches de área urbana e rural. Das crianças com déficit de E/I, 10 por cento apresentaram obesidade associada. Calculando-se a razão entre a prevalência de obesidade e déficit de P/I, verificou-se razão de 1,7:1, sendo 1,3:1 e 5:1 para as crianças do meio urbano e rural, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: A baixa estatura e a obesidade foram os distúrbios nutricionais mais prevalentes na população de estudo, com maior expressividade do processo de transição nutricional nas crianças de área rural.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional status of children from day care centers of the public educational system in the municipality of Bezerros, Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined the anthropometric indicators of 735 children aged between one and seven years old, which accounted for 70 percent of the children enrolled at the educational system of Bezerros municipality in 2008. The indicators used for classification of the nutritional status were height/age (H/A), weight/age (W/A) and weight/height (W/H), all expressed as Z-score values. The software used for data analysis was the Epi-Info, version 6.04. RESULTS: In the studied group, 53.7 percent of the children were males and 72.7 percent were from day care centers located in the urban area. The nutritional assessment revealed a prevalence of nutritional deficit of 6.8 and 0.7 percent according to H/A and W/H, respectively. The prevalence of obesity according to the W/H was 6.1 percent. A nutritional risk for short stature was observed among males, and a higher prevalence of short stature was verified among female children. There were no differences between urban and rural day care centers in relation to children nutritional status. Obesity was associated to H/A deficits in 10 percent of the children. The ratio between the prevalence of overweight and deficit of W/A was 1.7:1, being 1.3:1 for children from the urban areas and 5:1 for those from rural areas. CONCLUSION: Short stature and obesity were the most prevalent nutritional disorders in the studied population. The nutritional transition process was more evident in children of rural area.