Malnutrition and sarcopenia are associated with poor quality of life in Indian patients with chronic pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) often leads to malnutrition and sarcopenia, negatively impacting clinical outcomes and quality of life. Although Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) and European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria are widely used to assess these conditions globally, Indian data is scarce. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of malnutrition and sarcopenia in CP patients using these criteria and their effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 100 adult outpatients with CP were recruited. Malnutrition and sarcopenia were assessed by above criteria and HRQoL by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (version 3.0). Muscle mass was assessed by skeletal muscle index (SMI) at third lumbar vertebral level on computed tomography.

RESULTS

Malnutrition was identified in 45% and sarcopenia in 32% of subjects (age [37.4 ± 11.8] years, males 81%, alcohol etiology 43%). A higher proportion of patients with malnutrition had alcohol use (25[55.5%] vs. 18[32.7%], p = 0.027), smoking (18[40.0%] vs. 10[18.1%], p = 0.024), pain occurrence (45[100%] vs. 42[76%], p < 0.001) and pain scores (8[7-10] vs. 3[1-5], p < 0.001), endocrine insufficiency (25[55.5%] vs. 19[34.5%], p = 0.044) and calorie deficit (455[368-652] kcal vs. 53 [-80-116] kcal, p < 0.001) compared to those without. Body mass index (BMI) was normal in 15 patients with malnutrition. All functional scales of the HRQoL questionnaire were significantly worse in those with malnutrition and sarcopenia than those without and the global score exhibited significant association with each component of the GLIM phenotypic criteria and EWGSOP2 criteria. Pain score and calorie deficit independently predicted malnutrition on multivariate regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are notably prevalent in Indian patients with CP and are associated with poor HRQoL. GLIM diagnosed more patients with malnutrition than BMI alone.