The Significance of SARC-F Scores in One-Year Mortality of Adults with High Nutritional Risk with Cancer.

Abstract

Sarcopenia, being prevalent in up to 70% of cancer patients, is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The use of the Simple Questionnaire for Rapidly Diagnose of Sarcopenia (SARC-F), a questionnaire developed to screen for sarcopenia, remains to be investigated in cancer patients. The aim in this study was to assess the prognostic value of SARC-F on one-year mortality in cancer patients at high nutritional risk. This retrospective cohort study included patients at high nutritional risk undergoing cancer treatment and who were screened with the SARC-F questionnaire. The primary outcome was one-year all-cause mortality. A total of 185 patients were included with a median age of 68 years, with 58.6% male. The main cancer sites were digestive system (36.2%), and respiratory system (27.6%). The prevalence of sarcopenia risk was 59.5% and was more common in patients with older age, greater comorbidities and frailty. There was an association between sarcopenia risk and one-year mortality in all cancer patients (p = 0.002) and non-metastatic cancer patients (p = 0.005). There was no association between the risk of sarcopenia and one-year mortality in patients with metastatic cancer. The SARC-F score might be applicable to identify prognosis for cancer patients.