Muscle strength is a stronger prognostic factor than muscle mass in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pancreatic cancers

•We analyzed patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pancreatic cancer•We explored the association between muscle mass or strength and 5-y survival•Low muscle strength was a stronger prognostic factor than low muscle mass•Skeletal muscle mass index of 7.21 kg/m2 and handgrip strength of 28 kg were obtained as outcome-based cutoff values in men•Measuring muscle strength in all patients is essential