ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative clinical outcome in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A prospective study was performed in 93 patients with gastric cancer and the skeletal muscle mass was examined by bioelectrical impedance. The primary outcome was postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were postoperative length of stay, overall hospital costs, 60 days re-admission and mortality rate. Results: A significant difference (sarcopenia group vs. non-sarcopenia group) was observed in the rates of overall postoperative complications, incidence of pleural effusion and intra-abdominal infection, overall hospital stay and postoperative hospital stay (P ＜ 0. 05). The rates of 60 days readmission, 60 days mortality and hospital costs in sarcopenia group were not different between the two groups (P ＞ 0. 05). By univariate and multivariate analysis, preoperative sarcopenia and preoperative nutritional risk are the risk factors of postoperative complications. Conclusion: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in patients with gastric cancer; preoperative patients with sarcopenia have a worse prognosis and should be screened and optimized before surgery.