Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026.
World J Clin Oncol. Apr 24, 2026; 17(4): 116601
Published online Apr 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i4.116601
Published online Apr 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i4.116601
Table 1 Participant baseline characteristics stratified by body mass index categories, n (%)
| Characteristics | Overall (n = 360) | BMI | P value | ||
| < 18.5 kg/m2 (n = 36) | 18.5-24.0 kg/m2 (n = 239) | ≥ 24.0 kg/m2 (n = 85) | |||
| Survival state | 0.356 | ||||
| Survival | 151 (41.9) | 13 (3.6) | 97 (26.9) | 41 (11.4) | |
| Death | 209 (58.1) | 23 (6.4) | 142 (39.4) | 44 (12.2) | |
| Survive time, median (IQR) | 22.2 (12, 38.78) | 14.535 (7.7425, 34.793) | 22 (12.2, 37.95) | 26 (15, 41.57) | 0.019 |
| Gender | 0.056 | ||||
| Female | 73 (20.3) | 6 (1.7) | 42 (11.7) | 25 (6.9) | |
| Male | 287 (79.7) | 30 (8.3) | 197 (54.7) | 60 (16.7) | |
| Age, mean ± SD | 65 (58.75 ± 70) | 65 (59.75 ± 72) | 64 (57.5 ± 69) | 66 (61 ± 71) | 0.072 |
| KPS | 0.057 | ||||
| 70 | 6 (1.7) | 3 (0.8) | 2 (0.6) | 1 (0.3) | |
| 80 | 144 (40) | 12 (3.3) | 96 (26.7) | 36 (10) | |
| 90 | 208 (57.8) | 21 (5.8) | 140 (38.9) | 47 (13.1) | |
| 100 | 2 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | |
| Smoking history | 0.006 | ||||
| No | 142 (39.4) | 12 (3.3) | 84 (23.3) | 46 (12.8) | |
| Yes | 218 (60.6) | 24 (6.7) | 155 (43.1) | 39 (10.8) | |
| Alcohol history | 0.331 | ||||
| No | 153 (42.5) | 17 (4.7) | 95 (26.4) | 41 (11.4) | |
| Yes | 207 (57.5) | 19 (5.3) | 144 (40) | 44 (12.2) | |
| Tumor location | 0.956 | ||||
| Cervical | 23 (6.4) | 1 (0.3) | 16 (4.4) | 6 (1.7) | |
| Upper thoracic | 79 (21.9) | 10 (2.8) | 53 (14.7) | 16 (4.4) | |
| Middle thoracic | 139 (38.6) | 14 (3.9) | 93 (25.8) | 32 (8.9) | |
| Lower thoracic | 107 (29.7) | 10 (2.8) | 70 (19.4) | 27 (7.5) | |
| Abdominal | 12 (3.3) | 1 (0.3) | 7 (1.9) | 4 (1.1) | |
| T stage | 0.006 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | |
| 2 | 31 (8.6) | 2 (0.6) | 22 (6.1) | 7 (1.9) | |
| 3 | 203 (56.4) | 11 (3.1) | 135 (37.5) | 57 (15.8) | |
| 4 | 125 (34.7) | 23 (6.4) | 81 (22.5) | 21 (5.8) | |
| N stage | 0.016 | ||||
| 0 | 7 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.6) | 5 (1.4) | |
| 1 | 96 (26.7) | 7 (1.9) | 59 (16.4) | 30 (8.3) | |
| 2 | 180 (50) | 19 (5.3) | 124 (34.4) | 37 (10.3) | |
| 3 | 77 (21.4) | 10 (2.8) | 54 (15) | 13 (3.6) | |
| Clinical stage | 0.001 | ||||
| I | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | |
| II | 16 (4.4) | 2 (0.6) | 7 (1.9) | 7 (1.9) | |
| III | 206 (57.2) | 10 (2.8) | 140 (38.9) | 56 (15.6) | |
| IV | 137 (38.1) | 24 (6.7) | 91 (25.3) | 22 (6.1) | |
| RT dose, median (IQR) | 65 (60, 66) | 61.2 (60, 66) | 65 (60, 66) | 66 (60, 66) | 0.376 |
| Chemotherapy | 0.003 | ||||
| No | 39 (10.8) | 10 (2.8) | 21 (5.8) | 8 (2.2) | |
| Yes | 321 (89.2) | 26 (7.2) | 218 (60.6) | 77 (21.4) | |
| Glucose, median (IQR) | 5.13 (4.71, 5.8225) | 5.045 (4.5625, 5.76) | 5.1 (4.71, 5.725) | 5.26 (4.8, 6.1) | 0.110 |
| Total cholesterol, mean ± SD | 4.725 (4.0475 ± 5.3625) | 4.49 (4.1225 ± 5.3375) | 4.79 (4.07 ± 5.365) | 4.83 (3.88 ± 5.36) | 0.921 |
| Triglyceride, median (IQR) | 1.13 (0.8975, 1.45) | 1.025 (0.8375, 1.295) | 1.12 (0.885, 1.4) | 1.31 (1, 1.57) | 0.017 |
| LMM | < 0.001 | ||||
| No | 277 (76.9) | 12 (3.3) | 185 (51.4) | 80 (22.2) | |
| Yes | 83 (23.1) | 24 (6.7) | 54 (15) | 5 (1.4) | |
- Citation: Xiao L, Liu YD, Zhang X, Zhang SC, Lyu JH. Body mass index predicts low muscle mass in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(4): 116601
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2218-4333/full/v17/i4/116601.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5306/wjco.v17.i4.116601