A Study on the Correlation Between Body Composition, Mental Health, and Adipokines in Gastric Cancer Patients After Completion of Adjuvant Chemotherapy

This study analyzed the correlations among body composition, mental health, and adipokines in gastric cancer survivors who completed adjuvant chemotherapy. Adult patients who underwent surgery and anticancer treatment at a university hospital in S City were measured for body composition (InBody 770), depression (BDI), stress (PSS-10), and serum leptin and adiponectin (ELISA). Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed a high positive correlation between body fat mass, body fat percentage, and BMI. Leptin showed a significant positive correlation with body fat-related indicators, suggesting it may act as a metabolic marker reflecting body fat accumulation status. In contrast, adiponectin showed no significant correlation with body composition or leptin levels. Similarly, depression and stress levels exhibited no statistically significant relationship with body composition or metabolic markers. These findings suggest an interrelationship between body composition and adipokines in gastric cancer survivors, indicating that mental health may be more significantly influenced by psychosocial factors than by physical factors. Future studies should expand the sample size and adopt a longitudinal design to establish evidence for developing integrated health management strategies for gastric cancer survivors.