Sarcopenia predicts 90-day mortality and postoperative complications after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

Purpose A single-center study was conducted to investigate the impact of sarcopenia as a predictor for 90-day mortality (90 dM) and complications within 90 days after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Methods In total, 327 patients with preoperative available digital computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis were identified. The lumbar skeletal muscle index was measured using preoperative abdominal CT to assess sarcopenia. Complications were recorded and graded according to Clavien–Dindo (CD). Predictors of 90 dM and complications within 90 days were analyzed by uni- and multivariable logistic regression. Results Of the 327 patients, 262 (80%) were male and 108 (33%) patients were classified as sarcopenic. Within 90 days, 28 (7.8%) patients died, of whom 15 patients were sarcopenic and 13 were not. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sarcopenia (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.13–5.95; p = 0.025), ASA 3–4 (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.10–5.82; p = 0.029) and cM + (OR 7.43; 95% CI 2.34–23.64; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of 90-day mortality. Sarcopenic patients experienced significantly more complications, i.e., CD 4a–5 ( p = 0.003), compared to non-sarcopenic patients. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sarcopenia was independently associated with CD ≥ 3b complications corrected for age, BMI, ASA-Score and type of urinary diversion. Conclusions We reported that sarcopenia proved an independent predictor for 90 dM and complications in patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer.