title: Relationship between weakness and phase angle in advanced cancer patients with fatigue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to determine the relationship between weakness and bioimpedance analysis (BIA)-derived phase angle in a population of untreated cancer patients with fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 41 treatment-naive cancer patients of several origins that presented with performance status 1-2, weight loss >5% in the last 6 months, and Fatigue Numeral Scale score >4. Weakness was considered a physical component of the multidimensional fatigue syndrome and was evaluated through several parameters utilizing hand grip strength technique by dinamometry. The same assessment was also performed on a healthy control population (n = 20). BIA-derived phase angle was also determined by BIA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy controls, cancer patients exhibited significant differences in all the parameters: median fatigue was 6 (range 5-9), evaluated maximal strength mean was 27 ± 10.71 vs. 42 ± 10.74 kg (p < 0.0001 for patients vs. control, respectively), and muscle strength difference (max-min muscle strength) was also statistically different (p < 0.0001). We also determined parameter associations within the patient population. We found statistical significant correlations between median phase angle score and endurance muscle with percentage of weight loss (r = 0.43, p = 0.03) for head and neck cancer patients, and in non-small cell lung cancer patients, grip work correlated significantly with normal or decreased phase angle (r = 0.85), p = 0.006 (Spearman Rank Correlation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weakness could be correlated with normal or decreased phase angle in a population with ambulatory advanced cancer with fatigue naive of treatment. We also found a significant relationship between median phase angle score and endurance muscle with percentage of weight loss in the subpopulation of patients with head and neck carcinoma.
authors: Translational Research Unit, Angel H. Roffo Cancer Institute, Av. San Martín 5481, Buenos Aires, Argentina. alfredonavigante@yahoo.com.ar
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Navigante
authors: P Cresta
authors: PC
authors: Morgado
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Casbarien
authors: N López
authors: NL
authors: Delgado
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Giglio
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Perman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015431:Weight Loss