The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) released new criteria for diagnosing and grading malnutrition. This study aimed to investigate the optimal reference values of body mass index (BMI) for discriminating severe malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria, as well as the prevalence of GLIM-defined malnutrition in the clinical setting. This study included 6783 patients aged ≥40 years, who were admitted to an academic hospital. Of the 1987 patients who presented with low BMI in period 1, optimal BMI cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic analyses against in-hospital mortality in younger (aged <70 years) and older age groups. Next, 4796 patients from period 2 were screened using a validated nutritional screening tool. Patients had their nutritional condition assessed after screenings were analyzed using the GLIM criteria, which included body weight changes, BMI, reduced muscle mass, nutritional intake, and disease burden. Additionally, patients diagnosed with malnutrition were classified as having moderate or severe malnutrition, according to the obtained BMI values from the period 1 data. The optimal cut-off BMI values were 17.0 kg/m2 for younger patients and 17.8 kg/m2 for older patients. Patients at risk of malnutrition included 14.5% and 42.0% of admitted younger and older patients in period 2, respectively. GLIM-defined malnutrition was diagnosed in 18.0% of all patients (10.6% and 25.7% in younger and older patients, respectively). After adapting the BMI cut-off values according to the period 1 results, 9.0% and 9.0% of all patients were diagnosed as having moderate and severe malnutrition, respectively. Patients with GLIM-defined malnutrition showed significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to those without malnutrition. The Asian reference values of BMI to grade malnutrition severity according to the GLIM criteria, as well as the prevalence of GLIM-defined malnutrition were determined. These reference values will contribute to implementing the GLIM criteria in Asian populations.

Background: Combinations of exercise and nutritional interventions might improve the functional prognosis for cachectic cancer patients. However, high attrition and poor compliance with interventions limit their efficacy. We aimed to test the feasibility of the early induction of new multimodal interventions specific for elderly patients with advanced cancer Nutrition and Exercise Treatment for Advanced Cancer (NEXTAC) programme.Methods: This was a multicentre prospective single‐arm study. We recruited 30 of 46 screened patients aged ≥70 years scheduled to receive first‐line chemotherapy for newly diagnosed, advanced pancreatic, or non‐small‐cell lung cancer. Physical activity was measured using pedometers/accelerometer (Lifecorder^®, Suzuken Co., Ltd., Japan). An 8 week educational intervention comprised three exercise and three nutritional sessions. The exercise interventions combined home‐based low‐intensity resistance training and counselling to promote physical activity. Nutritional interventions included standard nutritional counselling and instruction on how to manage symptoms that interfere with patient's appetite and oral intake. Supplements rich in branched‐chain amino acids (Inner Power^®, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan) were provided. The primary endpoint of the study was feasibility, which was defined as the proportion of patients attending ≥4 of six sessions. Secondary endpoints included compliance and safety.Results: The median patient age was 75 years (range, 70–84). Twelve patients (40%) were cachectic at baseline. Twenty‐nine patients attended ≥4 of the six planned sessions (96.7%, 95% confidence interval, 83.3 to 99.4). One patient dropped out due to deteriorating health status. The median proportion of days of compliance with supplement consumption and exercise performance were 99% and 91%, respectively. Adverse events possibly related to the NEXTAC programme were observed in five patients and included muscle pain (Grade 1 in two patients), arthralgia (Grade 1 in one patient), dyspnoea on exertion (Grade 1 in one patient), and plantar aponeurositis (Grade 1 in one patient).Conclusions: The early induction of multimodal interventions showed excellent compliance and safety in elderly patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic and non‐small‐cell lung cancer receiving concurrent chemotherapy. We are now conducting a randomized phase II study to measure the impact of these interventions on functional prognosis.

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) approach to malnutrition diagnosis is based on assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (reduced food intake/assimilation and disease burden/inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by fulfillment of any combination of at least one phenotypic and at least one etiologic criterion. The original GLIM description provided limited guidance regarding assessment of inflammation and this has been a factor impeding further implementation of the GLIM criteria. We now seek to provide practical guidance for assessment of inflammation in support of the etiologic criterion for inflammation. A GLIM-constituted working group with 36 participants developed consensus-based guidance through a modified-Delphi review. A multi-round review and revision process served to develop seven guidance statements. The final round of review was highly favorable with 99 % overall "agree" or "strongly agree" responses. The presence of acute or chronic disease, infection or injury that is usually associated with inflammatory activity may be used to fulfill the GLIM disease burden/inflammation criterion, without the need for laboratory confirmation. However, we recommend that recognition of underlying medical conditions commonly associated with inflammation be supported by C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements when the contribution of inflammatory components is uncertain. Interpretation of CRP requires that consideration be given to the method, reference values, and units (mg/dL or mg/L) for the clinical laboratory that is being used. Confirmation of inflammation should be guided by clinical judgement based upon underlying diagnosis or condition, clinical signs, or CRP.

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) introduced an approach for malnutrition diagnosis in 2019 comprised of screening followed by assessment of three phenotypic criteria: weight loss, low BMI, and low muscle mass, and two etiologic criteria: reduced food intake/assimilation, and inflammation/disease burden. This planned update reconsiders the GLIM framework based on published knowledge and experience over the past five years. A GLIM working group (n = 43 members) conducted a literature search spanning 2019-2024 using the keywords "Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition or GLIM". Prior GLIM activities providing guidance for use of the criteria on muscle mass and inflammation were reviewed. Successive rounds of review and revision were used to achieve consensus. More than 400 scientific reports are published in peer-reviewed journals, forming the basis of 10 systematic reviews, some including meta-analyses of GLIM validity that indicate strong construct and predictive validity. Limitations and future priorities are discussed. Working group findings suggest that assessment of low muscle mass should be guided by experience and available technological resources. Clinical judgement may suffice to evaluate the inflammation/disease burden etiologic criterion. No revisions of the weight loss, low BMI, or reduced food intake/assimilation criteria are suggested. Following two rounds of review and revision, the working group secured 100 % agreement with the conclusions reported in the 5-year update. Ongoing initiatives target priorities that include malnutrition risk screening procedures, GLIM adaptation to the intensive care setting, assessment in support of the reduced food intake/assimilation criterion, and determination of malnutrition in obesity.

Background: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) approach to malnutrition diagnosis is based on assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (reduced food intake/assimilation and disease burden/inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by fulfillment of any combination of at least one phenotypic and at least one etiologic criterion. The original GLIM description provided limited guidance regarding assessment of inflammation, and this has been a factor impeding further implementation of the GLIM criteria. We now seek to provide practical guidance for assessment of inflammation.Methods: A GLIM‐constituted working group with 36 participants developed consensus‐based guidance through a modified Delphi review. A multiround review and revision process served to develop seven guidance statements.Results: The final round of review was highly favorable, with 99% overall “agree” or “strongly agree” responses. The presence of acute or chronic disease, infection, or injury that is usually associated with inflammatory activity may be used to fulfill the GLIM disease burden/inflammation criterion, without the need for laboratory confirmation. However, we recommend that recognition of underlying medical conditions commonly associated with inflammation be supported by C‐reactive protein (CRP) measurements when the contribution of inflammatory components is uncertain. Interpretation of CRP requires that consideration be given to the method, reference values, and units (milligrams per deciliter or milligram per liter) for the clinical laboratory that is being used.Conclusion: Confirmation of inflammation should be guided by clinical judgment based on underlying diagnosis or condition, clinical signs, or CRP.