Abstract Purpose Sarcopenia is a prevalent musculoskeletal complication after pediatric cancer, and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differences according to sarcopenia status in young pediatric cancer survivors, and determined if these differences were distinct by sex. Methods This cross-sectional study included 116 pediatric cancer survivors (12.1 ± 3.3 years old). Muscle strength was evaluated by handgrip strength test, while appendicular lean mass index (ALMI, kg/m 2 ) was estimated via dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry. “Sarcopenia probable” was defined when muscle strength was ≤ decile 2 and ALMI Z-score was > -1.5 standard deviation (SD). “Sarcopenia confirmed” was defined when muscle strength was ≤ decile 2 and ALMI Z-score ≤ -1.5 SD. HRQoL was assessed using the Spanish version of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, and compared with age-specific reference values of healthy young population to calculate Z-scores. Results Only female survivors without sarcopenia had significantly better total HRQoL (-0.3 95% CI: -0.8 to 0.2 vs. 1.5 95% CI: -2.1 to -0.8), physical HRQoL (-0.3 95% CI: -0.8 to 0.2 vs. -1.6 95% CI: -2.3 to -0.9), psychosocial HRQoL (-0.2 95% CI: -0.7 to 0.3 vs. -1.2 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.6) and school HRQoL (-0.1 95% CI: -0.6 to 0.4 vs. -1.3 95% CI: -2.0 to -0.7) than female survivors with sarcopenia confirmed. Conclusion Most HRQoL domains are similar across sarcopenia status in young pediatric cancer survivors. However, female survivors without sarcopenia seem to have better HRQoL Z-score than those with sarcopenia.
Mármol-Pérez et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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