Performance of functionality measures and phase angle in women exposed to chemotherapy for early breast cancer

Bruna Ramos da Silva; Mirele S Mialich; Loris P Cruz; Sarah Rufato; Thais Gozzo; Alceu A Jordao

doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.02.007

Performance of functionality measures and phase angle in women exposed to chemotherapy for early breast cancer

Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021 Apr:42:105-116. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.02.007. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Authors

Bruna Ramos da Silva¹, Mirele S Mialich², Loris P Cruz³, Sarah Rufato², Thais Gozzo³, Alceu A Jordao²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Bandeirantes avenue 3900, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: bruna.ramos.silva@usp.br.
² Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Bandeirantes avenue 3900, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Nursing School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

PMID: 33745563
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.02.007

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to analyze the influence of chemotherapy on nutritional status and the phase angle (PhA) as nutritional indicator for breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: A prospective study was performed. Women who were starting chemotherapy with no previous chemotherapy treatment were recruited. Quality of life (QoL) was collected using the EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, performance tests, and blood sample to albumin analyzes were collected at 2-time points: diagnosis (T0) and after 1 month of completion of therapy (T1). Mean, standard deviation, linear regression, and ANOVA in R were used to explore the results.

Results: 61 women were included. We did not find any changes in body composition. However, PhA, nutritional risk index (NRI), gait speed (GS), and handgrip strength (HGS) had expressive changes (p < 0.001). 75.4% of women had PhA values below the cut-off point of 5.6°, and the group that had a lower average of PhA also expressed low NRI. PhA was a nutritional status marker and its values were influenced by changes in NRI (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: We have found supporting evidence for chemotherapy treatment resulting in worsening of prognostic factors such as PhA, and yet PhA was related to no nutritional risk. Besides a higher prevalence of obesity, 80% of the sample showed some nutritional risk level, implying the possibility of a sub-notification candidate who might benefit, for instance, from nutritional intervention in obesity groups. Further investigation about this theme may improve health measures for the prevention and screening of disease among breast cancer.

Keywords: Body composition; Early breast cancer; Fatigue; Phase angle; Quality of life.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Female
Hand Strength
Humans
Nutritional Status
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life*