Association between body composition and survival in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Background Body composition may influence the prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. To find out the most crucial factors in this relationship, we explored the association between body composition and survival. Methods In this prospective longitudinal study, HNC patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT) from March 2017 to December 2018 were recruited. The association between body composition and survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression. Results Final analysis included 316 patients, with a median follow-up of 34.4 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that weight loss 6 months before RT and body composition changes during RT did not affect the survival outcome. However, patients with low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) before RT exhibited poor overall survival (OS). ASMI before RT was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusions Body composition loss was common during RT, and ASMI before RT independently influenced the survival outcomes of HNC patients.