Objective To investigate the influene of sarcopenia on quality of life in patients with adenocarcinoma of gastroesophageal junction (AEG).

Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 109 patients with AEG who were admitted to Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were collected. There were 63 males and 46 females, aged (63±11)years. All patients underwent 3D laparoscopic assisted radical total gastrectomy+D₂ lymph node dissection. The skeletal muscle content of patient was obtained within 3 days before surgery by using a multi‑frequency bioelectrical impedance human body composition analyzer. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients with sarco-penia and non sarcopenia; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions in patients with sarco-penia and non sarcopenia; (3) analysis of serious postoperative complications in patients with AEG; (4) preoperative and postoperative quality of life score in patients with sarcopenia and non sarco-penia. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(Q₁,Q₃), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann‑Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi‑square test. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the Mann‑Whitney U non‑parameter rank sum test. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA, and their variances were tested using a spherical test. Univariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model, and multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic stepwise regression model.

Results (1) Clinical characteristics of patients with sarcopenia and non sarcopenia. Of 109 patients with AEG, there were 42 cases with sarcopenia and 67 cases with non sarcopenia. The body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), rate of FEV1/forced vital capacity were (20.3±2.3)kg/m², 92%±9%, 79%±11% in patients with sarcopenia, respectively, versus (24.4±2.7)kg/m², 97%±9%, 85%±11% in patients with non sarcopenia, showing significant differences in the above indicators between them (t=8.07, 2.46, 2.77, P<0.05). (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions in patients with sarcopenia and non sarco-penia. The volume of intraoperative blood loss, time to postoperative first flatus, duration of post-operative hospital stay, cases with postoperative complications were 208(192, 231)mL, (3.4±0.9)days, (11.4±3.2)days, 26 in patients with sarcopenia, respectively, versus 195(150,215)mL, (2.8±0.7)days, (9.9±1.6)days, 14 in patients with non sarcopenia, showing significant differences in the above indi-cators between them (Z=-2.14, t=3.25, 3.38, χ²=18.69, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of serious postoperative complications in patients with AEG. Results of multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia and BMI reduction were independent risk factors influencing serious postoperative complications in patients with AEG (odds ratio=2.04, 1.98, 95% confidence interval as 1.24-3.36, 1.09-3.60, P<0.05). (4) Pre-operative and postoperative quality of life score in patients with sarcopenia and non sarcopenia. Results of multivariate test in physical function, role function, social function, overall score of patients with sarcopenia and non sarcopenia before surgery, 2 weeks after surgery, 4 weeks after surgery, and 8 weeks after surgery showed that there were significant differences in the temporal effect, intergroup effect and interaction effect of the above indicators between patients with sarcopenia and non sarcopenia (P<0.05). Results of individual effects showed that there were significant differences in the intergroup effect of the above indicators between patients with sarcopenia and non sarcopenia (P<0.05).

Conclusion Preoperative sarcopenia increases the risk of severe postoperative complications and reduces the postoperative quality of life in patients with AEG.