Analysis of the incidence and influencing factors of sarcopenia in elderly patients with radiation enteritis

To investigate the incidence of sarcopenia and its influencing factors in elderly patients with chronic radiation proctitis and radiation enteritis.

Patients in the experimental group exhibited significantly lower levels of total cellular fluid volume, total protein content, lean tissue, skeletal muscle mass (SLM), fat-free mass (FFM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), relative skeletal muscle mass index (RSMI), visceral fat area (VFA), body mass index (BMI), and phase angle compared to the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Furthermore, within the experimental group, patients with sarcopenia had lower average body mass, BMI, protein levels, ASM, RSMI, body fat, and phase angle compared to those without sarcopenia, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of sarcopenia among different BMI groups within the experimental group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between RSMI and height, body weight, BMI, protein, FFM, SLM, and ASM ( P < 0.001), while it showed a significant negative correlation with age and percentage of body fat (PBF) (P < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that a higher BMI and ASM were protective factors against the development of sarcopenia in elderly patients with chronic radiation enteritis.

Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in elderly patients with chronic radiation enteritis. Maintaining a suitable high BMI and ASM level is protective against the development of sarcopenia in these patients.

Elderly patients with chronic radiation enteritis treated at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were selected as the experimental group. Simultaneously, elderly individuals undergoing health check-ups during the same period were chosen as the control group. Relevant parameters of the participants were collected. Diagnoses on whether these patients suffer from sarcopenia were collected.