Disparities in Clinical Outcomes and Risk Profiles Among Male and Female Chemotherapy Patients During COVID-19: An Observational Study

Objective To evaluate and describe clinical parameters and risk factors in patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing men and women. Methods The sample comprised 106 cancer patients, mean age 54.12 (SD 16.18), both sexes (71 women and 35 men), with different types of cancer, all undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Assessments included anthropometric measurements, tetrapolar bioimpedance (phase angle), handgrip dynamometry, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results After analysis, 49% of the patients showed deviations from the ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) (13% below and 36% above ideal). The waist-hip ratio was adversely altered in 90.9% of patients, indicating a moderate to very high cardiovascular disease risk (27.3% moderate, 36.4% high, and 27.3% very high). Notably, no women exhibited a low risk, unlike men (31%) (p = 0.007). Reduced calf circumference was observed in 76% of patients. Regarding body composition, 62.9% of patients displayed significant changes in body fat percentage. The majority also exhibited inadequate handgrip strength levels (63.6%), with men being approximately four times more likely to have insufficient strength (p = 0.008, OR = 3.910). A phase angle below the recommended level was found in 94.8% of the sample. Physical activity assessment revealed a 100% sedentary lifestyle rate. Conclusion Patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic had insufficient physical activity levels, inadequate handgrip muscle strength, and anthropometric indices and body composition with adverse changes, increasing cardiovascular risk and low phase angle reference values in the majority of the sample, with women displaying the most unfavorable profile. The research project was approved by the institutional review board, no. 5.069.269.