Association Between Fat Mass Index, Fat Free Mass Index and Metabolic Syndrome, Cachexia, and All-Cause Mortality Among Patients with Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the associations of fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) with metabolic syndrome (MetS), cachexia, and all-cause mortality in cancer patients, given the limited existing evidence on these relationships.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This analysis included 3,247 subjects enrolled in a cohort study. Cox regression analyses calculated hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Logistic models generated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Mediation effects of FMI and FFMI on the cachexia-mortality association were evaluated.

RESULTS

FMI and FFMI were significantly associated with MetS and cachexia, respectively. FMI (HR [95% CI] = 0.96 (0.94, 0.99), p = 0.003), FFMI (HR [95% CI] = 0.94 (0.91, 0.97), p < 0.001) were significantly associated with mortality. FMI (proportion mediated%=10.21, p = 0.03) and FFMI (proportion mediated%=13.16, p = 0.016) mediate the correlation between cachexia and mortality. Subgroup analysis showed that FMI had a significant mediating effect in gastrointestinal cancer, while FFMI had a significant mediating effect in lung cancer.

CONCLUSION

FMI and FFMI were positively correlated with MetS, negatively correlated with cachexia and mortality. FMI and FFMI mediate the association between cachexia and mortality, with FFMI having a higher mediating effect than FMI, however, the mediating effect was differentiated by tumor types.