The increasing prevalence of depression among older adults is a growing concern. Chronic health conditions, cognitive impairments, and hospitalizations amplify emotional distress and depression levels in this population. Assessing the quality of life is crucial for the well-being of older adults. Our study aimed to examine how comorbidities affect depression and quality of life in geriatric patients in both outpatient and hospital settings. 100 patients (50 from internal medicine outpatient clinic and 50 from internal medicine ward) were included in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were classified into different age groups (65–74 years, 75–84 years and ≥ 85 years). Data on patients’ location of application, age, sex, living alone or with family status, number of comorbid diseases, types of accompanying diseases were recorded and WHOQOL-OLD and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaires were administered. Results were evaluated using SPSS. The WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire score was higher in the 65–74 age group compared to other groups, but there was no significant difference between outpatient group and hospitalized group. Patients with comorbid diseases had lower WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire scores compared to those without comorbid diseases. In the 75–84 and ≥ 85 age groups, the GDS scores were higher compared to the 65–74 age group. In hospitalized group, GDS scores were higher than outpatient clinic group. In patients with comorbid diseases, GDS scores were higher than the ones without comorbid diseases. Our findings indicate that quality of life is higher among those aged 65–74, with lower incidence of depression compared to other age groups. Hospitalization correlates with higher depression rates but not quality of life. As number of comorbid diseases increases in older adults, the frequency of depression rises and the quality of life declines. Early detection and intervention for depression are crucial for enhancing older adults’ well-being.

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, frequently diagnosed at a metastatic stage. The identification of accessible, cost-effective prognostic biomarkers is critical for optimizing treatment strategies. The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), calculated using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, and platelet count, reflects endothelial dysfunction and has shown prognostic value in hematological cancers. However, its utility in metastatic PC remains unexplored. This study is the first to evaluate the prognostic significance of the EASIX in patients with metastatic PC receiving first-line FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 204 patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma at Istanbul Training and Research Hospital between 2020 and 2025. All patients received FOLFIRINOX as first-line therapy. EASIX was calculated as LDH (U/L) × creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (10⁹/L). A cut-off value of 1.33 was used to stratify patients into low and high EASIX groups. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared with the log-rank test. Results: The mean patient age was 63.0 ± 9.4 years; 61.8% were male. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Patients with EASIX ≥ 1.33 had significantly lower platelet counts and higher LDH and creatinine levels. Median OS was 14 months for EASIX < 1.33 and 8 months for EASIX ≥ 1.33 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: EASIX is a simple, inexpensive prognostic marker associated with overall survival in metastatic PC. Its integration into clinical practice may facilitate early risk stratification. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm its prognostic utility.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide. In hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC), cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) are the standard treatment. Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive muscle loss, is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing cancer outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of preexisting sarcopenia on overall survival, progression-free survival, and treatment-related adverse effects in patients receiving CDK4/6i therapy. A retrospective analysis was conducted on hormone receptor-positive mBC patients treated with CDK4/6i at Istanbul Training and Research Hospital between 2020 and 2024. Patients were classified as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic based on pretreatment computed tomography muscle mass measurements. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and treatment-related adverse effects, including dose reductions, acute kidney injury, liver function test abnormalities, and neutropenia, were compared between groups. Among 111 patients, 20 (18%) were identified as sarcopenic. Sarcopenia was associated with significantly lower overall survival and progression-free survival compared to non-sarcopenic patients (P = .000). However, no significant differences were observed between groups in treatment-related adverse effects, including the need for dose reduction, acute kidney injury, liver function abnormalities, and neutropenia (P > .05). Sarcopenia negatively impacts survival outcomes in hormone receptor-positive mBC patients receiving CDK4/6i therapy. Routine screening and targeted interventions, such as nutritional support and physical activity programs, may help improve patient resilience and treatment efficacy. Further research is needed to develop strategies to mitigate sarcopenia’s impact on survival in this patient population.

Background and Objectives: Cachexia is a systemic wasting syndrome associated with poor outcomes in chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). Although the cachexia index (CXI), which integrates skeletal muscle mass, serum albumin, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, has shown prognostic value in oncology, its clinical significance in HF remains poorly defined. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study evaluated a selected subgroup of adults hospitalized with decompensated heart failure between January 2020 and January 2025 who had undergone abdominal computed tomography within the preceding 6 months, enabling CT-based body composition assessment. Skeletal muscle index was measured at the L3 vertebral level, and CXI was calculated as (SMI × serum albumin)/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Patients were followed for all-cause mortality and HF-related rehospitalizations. Results: A total of 127 patients were included (mean age 70.45 ± 12.73 years; 51.2% male). CXI showed excellent discrimination for mortality (AUC 0.951; 95% CI 0.905–0.996), with an optimal cut-off value of <20.87. Patients with low CXI had significantly higher all-cause mortality (80.5% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.001) and more HF-related hospitalizations [4 (3–5) vs. 0.5 (0–1), p < 0.001] than those with high CXI. Conclusions: In patients hospitalized with decompensated HF, low CXI was strongly associated with all-cause mortality and recurrent hospitalization, suggesting that CXI may serve as an integrative prognostic marker in this population.

Background: Sarcopenia is an increasingly recognized complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to impaired physical function and higher mortality. While most evidence derives from elderly populations, its frequency and inflammatory correlates in younger adults remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with inflammatory markers in a non-geriatric CKD cohort, including both hemodialysis and non-dialysis patients. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 128 non-geriatric CKD patients (18–65 years), 60 of whom were on maintenance hemodialysis. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to EWGSOP2 criteria using handgrip strength, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and 4-meter gait-speed testing. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA, while C-reactive protein (CRP) served as another inflammatory marker. SPSS v27.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sarcopenia was confirmed in 21.9% of the cohort, with a significantly higher prevalence among hemodialysis patients (31.7% vs 13.2%, P < .05). The prevalence of sarcopenia increased progressively with advancing CKD stage in the overall cohort (P < .05). Dialysis status was the most consistent independent predictor of sarcopenia (fully adjusted OR = 8.28, P = .004). IL-6 ≥ 110 ng/L and TNF-α > 150 ng/L were associated with higher sarcopenia prevalence and lower appendicular skeletal muscle mass, respectively (P < .05). Conclusion: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among non-geriatric CKD patients and increases with disease progression. Dialysis remains the strongest independent predictor, while elevated IL-6 and TNF-α levels reflect inflammation-related muscle loss.