Impact of myopenia and myosteatosis on postoperative outcome and recurrence in Crohn's disease

Is Myopenia or Myosteatosis Clinically Relevant in Systemic Sclerosis? Skeletal Muscle Assessment Using Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVES

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis, vascular damage, and immune dysregulation, often leading to muscle abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of myopenia and myosteatosis in SSc patients using computed tomography (CT) and their associations with clinical features, including lung disease and esophageal dilatation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SSc patients followed at Gazi University Rheumatology Clinic (2000-2024) who had thoracic CT imaging were included. Muscle mass and density were assessed at the L1 vertebral level. Skeletal muscle area (SMA) and skeletal muscle radiation attenuation (SMRA) were measured to identify myopenia and myosteatosis. Lung disease involvement and widest esophageal diameter (WED) were assessed via CT. Statistical analyses explored correlations between muscle metrics and clinical variables, with multiple linear regression identifying predictors.

RESULTS

Among 95 patients (54.7% diffuse SSc, 45.3% limited SSc; mean age 57.04 ± 13.65 years; female-to-male ratio 8.5:1), myopenia and myosteatosis prevalence were 27.3% and 41.1%, respectively. Myosteatosis was associated with female sex (p = 0.001), older age (p = 0.001), higher BMI (p = 0.043), and inflammation markers (CRP, ESR). Myopenia correlated with BMI (p = 0.001) but not clinical outcomes. Higher WED correlated with lower SMRA (p = 0.001). BMI predicted muscle mass (R² = 0.42), while age, gender, and BMI determined SMRA (R² = 0.67, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Myosteatosis was more prevalent and strongly associated with clinical features, including lung disease and esophageal dilatation, than myopenia, underscoring the importance of muscle quality.

Myosteatosis Evaluated Based on Intramuscular Adipose Tissue Content Is a Risk Factor for Postoperative Complications in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease causes acute and chronic inflammation that often make the preoperative evaluation of surgical risks difficult. Myosteatosis is used for the evaluation of muscle quality to assess sarcopenia. However, data on the relationship between myosteatosis and surgical outcomes in patients with Crohn's disease are lacking.

METHODS

Among patients with Crohn's disease who underwent surgery between 2007 and 2022, we investigated the impact of myosteatosis on postoperative complications using intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC). Our study included data from 97 patients who underwent analysis for cutoff values and factors associated with IMAC and 72 who underwent analysis for risk factors of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Body mass index (BMI; P < .001) and visceral adipose tissue/height index (P < .001) were significantly correlated with IMAC. High BMI (P < .001) and a history of abdominal surgery for Crohn's disease (P = .012) were identified as factors affected with high IMAC. Multivariate analysis revealed high IMAC and external fistulas as independent risk factors for postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR], 5.010; 95% CI, 1.300-19.30; P = .019 and OR, 7.850; 95% CI, 1.640-37.50; P = .010, respectively), especially infectious complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study established IMAC as a valuable marker for sarcopenic obesity and predicting postoperative complications in patients with Crohn's disease. Furthermore, evaluating myosteatosis using IMAC will facilitate the decision of the optimal timing of surgery, prediction of complications, and treatment of sarcopenia in patients with Crohn's disease.

Preoperative optimization: Review on nutritional assessment and strategies in IBD

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), encompassing conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, present multifaceted challenges requiring a comprehensive management approach. Patients often necessitate a combination of medical therapy, surgical interventions, and nutritional support. Despite advancements in medical and dietary therapies, the prevalence of surgery remains high among the IBD population, alongside the persistent risk of malnutrition. Preoperative nutritional optimization has thus become a critical element in the perioperative pathway, given its association with improved surgical outcomes. However, standardized protocols for preoperative optimization of IBD patients are lacking, and available data are mainly retrospective. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on preoperative nutritional screening and optimization in IBD patients and identifies avenues for future research and clinical practice. Interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals, including gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists, is crucial for comprehensive preoperative nutritional management in IBD patients. By addressing the interplay between inflammation, malnutrition, and surgical risk, clinicians can strive to enhance surgical care and postoperative outcomes. In conclusion, while recognizing the importance of preoperative nutritional optimization in improving surgical outcomes for IBD patients, challenges persist in standardizing management protocols. Prospective studies are needed to establish such protocols and evaluate the effectiveness of different nutritional strategies.

Prognostic impact of myosteatosis in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing curative surgery: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global health concern, and identifying prognostic factors can improve outcomes. Myosteatosis is fat infiltration into muscles and is a potential predictor of the survival of patients with CRC.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic role of myosteatosis in CRC. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched up to 1 August 2023, for relevant studies, using combinations of the keywords CRC, myosteatosis, skeletal muscle fat infiltration, and low skeletal muscle radiodensity. Case-control, prospective, and retrospective cohort studies examining the association between myosteatosis and CRC outcomes after curative intent surgery were eligible for inclusion. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Results

A total of 10 studies with a total of 9,203 patients were included. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for OS (myosteatosis vs. no myosteatosis) was 1.52 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.38-1.67); for CSS, 1.67 (95% CI, 1.40-1.99); and for DFS, 1.89 (95% CI, 1.35-2.65).

Conclusion

In patients with CRC undergoing curative intent surgery, myosteatosis is associated with worse OS, CSS, and DFS. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating myosteatosis in patients with CRC to improve outcomes.

Role of visceral fat on postoperative complications and relapse in patients with Crohn's disease after ileocecal resection: Is it overrated?

INTRODUCTION

The role of visceral fat in disease development, particularly in Crohn´s disease (CD), is significant. However, its preoperative prognostic value for postoperative complications and CD relapse after ileocecal resection (ICR) remains unknown. This study aims to assess the predictive potential of preoperatively measured visceral and subcutaneous fat in postoperative complications and CD recurrence using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The primary endpoint was postoperative anastomotic leakage of the ileocolonic anastomosis, with secondary endpoints evaluating postoperative complications according to the Clavien Dindo classification and CD recurrence at the anastomosis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 347 CD patients who underwent ICR at our tertiary referral center between 2010 and 2020. We included 223 patients with high-quality preoperative MRI scans, recording demographics, postoperative outcomes, and CD recurrence rates at the anastomosis. To assess adipose tissue distribution, we measured total fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and abdominal circumference (AC) at the lumbar 3 (L3) level using MRI cross-sectional images. Ratios of these values were calculated.

RESULTS

None of the radiological variables showed an association with anastomotic leakage (TFA p = 0.932, VFA p = 0.982, SFA p = 0.951, SFA/TFA p = 0.422, VFA/TFA p = 0.422), postoperative complications, or CD recurrence (TFA p = 0.264, VFA p = 0.916, SFA p = 0.103, SFA/TFA p = 0.059, VFA/TFA p = 0.059).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiological visceral obesity variables were associated with postoperative outcomes or clinical recurrence in CD patients undergoing ICR. Preoperative measurement of visceral fat measurement is not specific for predicting postoperative complications or CD relapse.

Imaging-based assessment of body composition in patients with Crohn's disease: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Body composition changes in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) have received increasing attention in recent years. This review aims to describe the changes in body composition in patients with CD on imaging and to analyze and summarize the prognostic value of body composition.

METHODS

We systematically searched Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Medline via OVID for literature published before November 2022, and two researchers independently evaluated the quality of the retrieved literature.

RESULTS

A total of 39 publications (32 cohort studies and 7 cross-sectional studies) involving 4219 patients with CD were retrieved. Imaging methods for body composition assessment, including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were included in this review. The study found that patients with CD typically have more visceral adipose tissue and less skeletal muscle mass, and the prevalence of sarcopenia and visceral obesity was significantly different in different studies (sarcopenia: 16-100%; visceral obesity: 5.3-30.5%). Available studies suggest that changes in the body composition of CD patients are significantly related to inflammatory status, disease behavior, poor outcomes, and drug efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Altered body composition can be a significant predictor of poor outcomes for CD patients. Therefore, the body composition of CD patients may serve as a potential therapeutic target to help optimize disease management strategies in clinical practice.

Review article: Putting some muscle into sarcopenia-the pathogenesis, assessment and clinical impact of muscle loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia, a loss of skeletal muscle mass or function, affects up to 50% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is associated with poor clinical outcomes including increased hospitalizations, need for surgery and post-operative complications. Despite the high prevalence and clinical significance of sarcopenia in patients with IBD, few patients undergo routine muscle evaluation.

AIM

The goal of this study was to review the mechanisms of sarcopenia in patients with IBD and understand novel modalities to assess and treat impaired muscle mass or function.

METHODS

Pubmed and Cochrane databases were searched including articles published up to February 2023 utilizing the following keywords: "inflammatory bowel disease", "IBD", "Crohn's disease", "ulcerative colitis", "sarcopenia", "myosteatosis", "muscle health", and "frailty".

RESULTS

The pathogenesis of sarcopenia in IBD is not well defined, however, there is evidence supporting the role of malabsorption, reduced protein intake, chronic inflammation, dysbiosis, decreased physical activity, medication effects and hormone signaling from visceral adiposity. Traditional sarcopenia assessment techniques include direct measurements on cross sectional imaging. However, given the time, cost and radiation exposure associated with cross sectional imaging, new bedside tools are now available to estimate muscle mass, including assessment of grip strength, mid upper arm circumference and body composition utilizing bioelectrical impedance analysis. In addition, novel biomarkers for assessing muscle mass and techniques utilizing point of care ultrasound have been proposed to make sarcopenia evaluation more streamlined in the IBD clinic.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is associated with poor clinical outcomes independent of IBD activity and therefore muscle health should be assessed in all IBD patients at routine intervals. Future studies to better our understanding of the pathophysiology as well as most effective management of sarcopenia in IBD will help guide clinical care and reduce disease related complications.