Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is a reliable, non-invasive, objective, and cost-effective body composition assessment method, with high reproducibility. This scoping review aims to evaluate the current scientific and clinical evidence on BIA for body composition assessment in oncology patients, under active treatment. Literature search was conducted through MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science databases, following PRISMA-ScR Guidelines. Inclusion criteria comprised studies reporting the use of BIA for body composition evaluation in adults with cancer diagnosis. Studies including non-cancer pathology or only assessing nutritional status were excluded. This scoping review comprised a total of 36 studies: 25 were original studies including 18 prospective studies, six cross-sectional studies and one retrospective study and 11 were systematic reviews. Population size for the included original articles ranged from 18 to 1217 participants, comprising a total of 3015 patients with cancer with a mean baseline Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 20.3 to 30.0 kg/m² and mean age ranging between 47 and 70 years. Review articles included a total of 273 studies, with a total of 78,350 participants. The current review considered studies reporting patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) (n = 8), breast cancer (BC) (n = 4), esophageal cancer (EC) (n = 2), liver cancer (n = 2), pancreatic cancer (PC) (n = 3), gastric cancer (GC) (n = 3), colorectal cancer (CRC) (n = 8), lung cancer (LC) (n = 1), skin cancer (SK) (n = 1) and multiple cancer types (n = 6). BIA is a suitable and valid method for the assessment of body composition in oncology. BIA-derived measures have shown good potential and relevant clinical value in preoperative risk evaluation, in the reduction of postoperative complications and hospital stay and as an important prognostic indicator in persons with cancer. Future research on the diagnostic value and clinical applications of BIA and BIA-derived phase angle (PhA) should be conducted in order to predict its impact on patient survival and other clinical outcomes.

Background: It is well established that older adults are at risk for malnutrition due to several social and non-social determinants, namely physiological, psychosocial, dietary and environmental determinants. The progression to malnutrition is often insidious and undetected. Thus, nutritional assessment should consider a complex web of factors that can impact nutritional status (NS). The primary objective of this study was to assess the NS of older adults attending senior centres (SCs) and to identify its predictors. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Lisbon. NS was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA^®). Malnutrition or malnutrition risk (recategorised into a single group) was predicted using binary logistic regression models, considering those participants classified as having a normal NS as the reference group. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and anthropometric indices were measured according to Isak procedures. Results: A sample of 337 older adults, with an average age of 78.4 years old (range 66–99), mostly women (n = 210; 62.3%), were enrolled. Older adults at risk of malnutrition accounted for 40.7% of the sample. Being older (OR = 1.045, CI 95% [1.003–1.089], p = 0.037), having a worse perception of health status (OR = 3.395, CI 95% [1.182–9.746], p = 0.023), having or having had depression (OR = 5.138, CI 95% [2.869–9.201], p < 0.001), and not having or having had respiratory tract problems (OR = 0.477, CI 95% [0.246–0.925], p = 0.028) were independent predictors of malnutrition or malnutrition risk. An intermediate time of SC attendance was associated with a lower probability of malnutrition or risk (OR = 0.367, CI 95% [0.191–0.705], p = 0.003). Conclusions: NS among older adults has a multifactorial aetiology, with a strongly social component and is related to health circumstances. Further research is needed to timely identify and understand nutritional risk among this population.

Background: Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has increased considerably in the last decade, whether for the prevention or treatment of numerous diseases, including bone, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, psychological, respiratory, infectious, or oncological. The primary objective of this scoping review was to examine and synthesize the scientific evidence on the role of VD in all-type cancer patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT), namely in improving side effects. Methods: This review was conducted by selecting papers from the CINAHL, Scopus and PubMed databases based on the descriptor terms mesh and title/abstract, taking into consideration the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the PRISMA-ScR (PRISMA extension for scoping reviews) statement. Results: A total of 758 papers were identified in different databases during this review. However, using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five publications made up the final sample of the study. The studies included heterogeneous study methodologies, objectives, cancer diagnosis, as well as methods to assess body composition, which makes it difficult to compare them. Based on the analyzed studies, associations were found between bone density and VD in patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). In patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receiving CT, some of the side effects associated with the treatment were attenuated and reduced. In addition, another of the studies analyzed found that VD deficiency (VDD) has been associated with increased peripheral neuropathy (PN) induced by CT in the treatment of breast cancer. VD supplementation was found to be safe and effective. Conclusions: In this scoping review, VD is highlighted as a crucial factor in preventing the side effects of neoadjuvant RT or CT, as well as treating other treatment-related health conditions, such as osteoporosis, as well as ameliorating the side effects (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) associated with aggressive CT and RT.

Purpose Europe’s ageing population necessitates high quality care for older people. However, in many countries geriatrics is still emerging as a specialty, with limited training options for healthcare professionals (HCPs). This international qualitative study aimed to understand the geriatric educational needs of HCPs, focusing on countries where Geriatric Medicine (GM) is emerging or underdeveloped. Methods Fourteen focus groups (n = 125 participants) were carried out representing 11 European countries and a range of HCPs and settings. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductively coded in the original language. Codes were aggregated into a shared English codebook which was applied to all transcripts. Descriptive and subsequently analytical themes were then developed. Results Three themes were identified: 1) Current experiences of geriatric care: Participants described caring for older adults as medically and socially complex, requiring strong communication skills and interprofessional collaboration. 2) Structural and contextual challenges: Limited staffing, fragmented care pathways, and the emerging status of GM hindered effective care delivery, and 3) Uncertainties and unmet training needs: Key uncertainties included distinguishing ageing from disease, applying assessment tools, recognising red flags, and safe medication management. Participants emphasised the need for practical training during undergraduate studies, standardised interprofessional courses for non-specialists, and structural support (e.g., accessible programs and protected time for training). Conclusion Our focus group study outlines the limitations of current training and provides a framework for developing relevant and feasible training for HCPs working with older people. Structural support is needed for these initiatives to improve European geriatric care.

Introdução: A sarcopenia é uma doença que se caracteriza por um distúrbio músculo esquelético progressivo e generalizado, com impacto pessoal, social e económico, se não tratada. Associa-se a maior probabilidade de quedas, fraturas, deficiência física, mortalidade e incapacidade na realização de atividades de vida diárias. Objetivos: Pretendeu-se estudar a frequência de sarcopenia em doentes internados no serviço de Medicina Interna-homens, por avaliação objetiva [força de pressão da mão, circunferência muscular do braço e perímetro geminal] e subjetiva (SARC-F) e estudar a relação entre ambas. Metodologia: Avaliou-se peso (kg), estatura (m) e calculou-se o Índice de Massa Corporal (kg/m2), avaliou-se massa gorda e muscular com medição de pregas cutâneas e compressibilidade de tecidos (lipocalibrador digital Lipowise®) e a força de pressão da mão com o Gripwise®. Resultados: Incluíram-se 150 homens, com idade média de 72 anos, Índice de Massa Corporal médio de 24,2kg/m2, gordura corporal de 21,5%, circunferência muscular do braço de 24,7cm, perímetro geminal de 32,0cm e força de pressão da mão esquerda de 20,3kgF. Segundo o SARC-F cerca de 52% tinha sarcopenia, e quando avaliada a força de pressão da mão, circunferência muscular do braço e perímetro geminal, 91,5%, 19,5% e 42,6% tinham critério sugestivo de sarcopenia, respetivamente. Encontrou-se correlação negativa e estatisticamente significativa entre a pontuação do SARC-F e a circunferência muscular do braço (r=-0,241; p= 0,004), perímetro geminal (r=- 0,269; p= 0,001) e força de pressão da mão (r=-0,400; p <0,001). O SARC-F identificou menor número de doentes com risco de sarcopenia quando comparado à força de pressão da mão. Conclusões: Conclui-se que o SARC-F deve, idealmente, ser utilizado conjuntamente com outros critérios para uma melhor identificação de sarcopenia.