Development and Feasibility of an Inpatient Cancer-Related Sarcopenia Pathway at a Major Cancer Centre

Loeliger, J; Edbrooke, L; Daly, RM; Stewart, J; Bucci, L; Puskas, C; Fitzgerald, M; Baguley, BJ; Kiss, N

Author(s): Loeliger, J; Edbrooke, L; Daly, RM; Stewart, J; Bucci, L; Puskas, C; Fitzgerald, M; Baguley, BJ; Kiss, N;
Details: Publication Year 2022-03-29,Volume 19,Issue #7,Page 4038
Journal Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: Cancer-related sarcopenia is a complex condition; however, no cancer-specific clinical model is available to guide clinical practice. This study aims to (1) develop an evidence-based care pathway for the management of cancer-related sarcopenia ("sarc-pathway") and (2) pilot test the feasibility (reach, intervention fidelity, patient and clinician acceptability) of the sarc-pathway in an inpatient cancer ward. The sarc-pathway was developed using a care pathway format and informed by the current literature. Patients admitted to a 32-bed inpatient cancer ward were recruited to receive sarc-pathway care and the feasibility outcomes were assessed. Of the 317 participants admitted, 159 were recruited over 3.5-months (median age 61 years; 56.0% males). Participant consent was high (99.4% of those approached) and 30.2% were at risk of/had sarcopenia. The sarc-pathway screening, assessment and treatment components were delivered as intended; however, low completion of clinical assessment measures were observed for muscle mass (bioimpedance spectroscopy, 20.5%) and muscle function (5-times chair stand test, 50.0%). The sarc-pathway was demonstrated to be acceptable to patients and multidisciplinary clinicians. In an inpatient cancer ward, the sarc-pathway is a feasible and acceptable clinical model and method to deliver and adhere to the sarcopenia clinical parameters specified, albeit with further exploration of appropriate clinical assessment measures.
Publisher: MDPI
Keywords: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feasibility Studies; Female; Geriatric Assessment/methods; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Mass Screening/methods; Middle Aged; *Neoplasms/complications/therapy; *Sarcopenia/diagnosis; Surveys and Questionnaires; cancer; care pathway; exercise; low muscle mass; malnutrition; multimodal; nutrition; sarcopenia
Department(s): Nutrition and Speech Pathology; Health Services Research; Physiotherapy
PubMed ID: 35409719
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074038
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074038
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2025-01-24 05:57:03

Last Modified: 2025-01-24 05:58:22