The sit to stand test in cancer patients and survivors.

Abstract

e24058 Background: The sit to stand test in 30 seconds has been used to measure power, strength, endurance, and balance. It has also been described as a useful tool in identifying presence of sarcopenia. Methods: Retrospective chart review of cancer patients and survivors referred to cancer rehabilitation clinic over a 5-year period from 1/1/2018-12/31/2022 at a large cancer institute in the southeastern part of the United States. Patients were assessed at their initial evaluation using the sit to stand test in 30 seconds (STS-30). Scoring for the sit to stand score was divided into 2 groups (impaired and good scores) based on age and gender specific normative data. Data was also collected for patients/survivors with different body mass index (BMI) ranges: underweight: (BMI < 18.5); normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.99); overweight (BMI: 25.-29.99), obese ( > 30) as well as stages of cancer (stage 0-4). Results: 1406 cancer patients and survivors underwent STS-30 at their initial evaluation in cancer rehabilitation clinic. This included cancers of breast, GI, GU, lung, gynecologic, brain/spine, hematologic, head and neck, musculoskeletal, endocrine and skin. 749/1406 (53.27%) had impaired STS-30 with an average score of 6.45 repetitions in 30 seconds and 657/1406 (46.73%) had good scores with an average of 14.75 repetitions in 30 seconds. BMI and STS-30: 1,298 patients had BMI data available. 912/1298 (70.3%) were overweight or obese. 501/912 (54.93%) had an impaired STS-30 with an average of 6.76 repetitions in 30 seconds. 411/912 (45.07%) had a good STS-30 with an average of 14.66 repetitions in 30 seconds. 386/1298 (29.7%) had a normal BMI or were underweight. 173/386 (44.82%) had an impaired STS-30 with an average of 6.57 repetitions in 30 seconds. 213/386 (55.18%) had a good STS-30 with an average of 15.06 repetitions in 30 seconds. Stage of cancer and STS-30: The stage of cancer was known for 647 patients/survivors. 462/647 (71.4%) had stage 0-3 cancer. 218/462 (47.2%) had an impaired STS-30 with an average of 6.91 repetitions in 30 seconds.244/462(52.8%) of them had a good STS-30 with an average of 14.54 repetitions in 30 seconds. 185/647 (28.6%) had stage 4 cancer. 114/185 (61.62%) had an impaired STS-30 with an average of 6.04 repetitions in 30 seconds. 71/185 (38.38%) had a good STS-30 score with an average of 14.27 repetitions in 30 seconds. Conclusions: The STS-30 was impaired in a significant percentage of cancer patients and survivors across all stages, implying the possible presence of sarcopenia in this population. Stage 4 cancer patients and overweight/obese patients were at especially high risk of having an impaired STS-30. Clinicians should utilize the STS-30 to screen cancer patients and survivors and if scores are impaired, further assess for presence of sarcopenia and introduce interventions to address it.