AB094. Association of body mass index with grading and survival of glioma patients.

Abstract

Background: Glioma is the second most common type of brain tumor, representing 24% of all brain tumor cases. The role of body mass index (BMI) on glioma remains unclear, with conflicting findings regarding the association between higher BMI and the risk of developing certain brain tumors. Glioblastoma, an aggressive and malignant form of glioma with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis, has been linked to BMI in some studies, suggesting that individuals with higher BMIs may have an elevated risk of glioblastoma development. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship and its extent is still needed. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between BMI and the grading and survival of glioma patients.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 117 histologically confirmed glioma patients at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Clinical data were collected from medical records. BMI was calculated by measuring weights (kg) and dividing it by squared heights (m2). The statistical analysis focused on assessing the association between BMI, tumor grade, and patient survival.

Results: Among 117 glioma patients, glioblastoma was the most prevalent tumor type (48.7%; n=57/117), followed by diffuse astrocytoma (22%; n=26/117). The remaining cases included anaplastic ependymoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and pilocytic astrocytoma. Most patients were male (61%), with an average age of 47.5 years, age ranges between 20 and 79 years. The majority had grade IV of World Health Organization (WHO) classification (58%, n=68/117), while only two patients were classified as grade I. The average BMI was 23.5 kg/m2, indicating overweight status for the Asian population, with more than half of the patients being overweight or obese (54%, n=63/117). Additionally, ten patients were underweight. There was a trend of higher BMI being associated with higher grading and survival. However, no significant association between BMI and tumor grade (P=0.23) or survival (P=0.26) was found.

Conclusions: Although no significant associations were found between BMI, tumor grade, and survival in glioma patients, further studies are warranted. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients should be further investigated to provide valuable insights for patient management and care.