Get a grip!: Baseline handgrip strength and sarcopenia as predictors of survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background Low handgrip strength (HGS) and sarcopenia are common in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to explore associations between baseline HGS, fat-free mass index (FFMI), nutritional indices, and survival. Methods This was a prospective observational sub-study of a randomized nutritional intervention trial, including 50 male patients with HNSCC undergoing curative-intent treatment (surgery and/or (chemo)radiotherapy). Sarcopenia was defined as low HGS (<27 kg) and FFMI (<17 kg/m2). Chi-square, Kaplan–Meier, and Cox analyses were used. Results Low HGS was observed in 16%, low FFMI in 46%, and sarcopenia in 12%. Patients with low HGS had lower body weight, BMI, and FFMI, alongside more malnutrition, elevated CRP, and heavy smoking. Low HGS and sarcopenia were associated with shorter overall survival (HR 3.7, [95% CI 1.5–9.1] and 5.5, [2.2–14.5], respectively); FFMI was not. Adjustment removed significance. Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small, all-male cohort size. Conclusion In this small exploratory cohort HGS may serve as a simple screening surrogate for sarcopenia and survival. Clinical trial registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT02159508.