Sarcopenia as a predictor of mortality among the critically ill in an intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Effects of passive blood-flow-restriction and electromyostimulation on ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW): a study protocol for a randomized-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) is a prevalent secondary disorder in critically ill patients, characterized by significant loss of muscle mass and strength, often leading to prolonged ICU stays, increased mortality, and reduced post-discharge quality of life. Despite guidelines recommending early mobilization, logistical challenges and inconclusive efficacy have limited its impact on ICUAW prevalence. This study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy of exclusively passive physiotherapeutic interventions, including blood flow restriction/ischemic preconditioning (BFR/IPC) and electromyostimulation (EStim), as potential alternatives for muscle preservation in ICU patients who are often sedated or unable to participate in active rehabilitation.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized controlled trial will recruit 120 patients from the surgical ICU at the University Hospital Bonn, who meet the inclusion criteria of a > 48-h ICU stay. Patients will be randomized into four groups: Sham-Control, BFR/IPC, EStim, and combined BFR/IPC + EStim. The study's primary endpoints include feasibility and safety metrics, such as patient compliance and stress response, alongside secondary endpoints related to clinical outcomes like ICU length of stay, ICUAW prevalence, muscle mass preservation, and rehabilitation efficacy. Measurements include non-invasive assessments of muscle mass, intramuscular microdialysis to monitor metabolic and inflammatory markers, and health-related quality of life evaluations post-discharge.

DISCUSSION

Preliminary literature and a systematic review underscore the need for resource-efficient, non-invasive interventions in ICU settings. BFR/IPC and EStim present promising results, but existing data on their efficacy in ICU populations are limited. This study's findings will provide foundational data on the viability of passive physiotherapy techniques in ICU settings, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs associated with prolonged ICU stays. If successful, these results will inform a multicenter randomized trial to further evaluate these interventions. This research represents a crucial step in developing feasible rehabilitation protocols to mitigate ICUAW, addressing a critical gap in critical care management and rehabilitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov DRKS00033592. Registered on March 05, 2024.

Muscle strength trajectories and outcomes in critically ill patients: A prospective multicentre cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the trajectories and determinants of muscle strength in ICU patients and their impact on 1-, 6-, and 12-month mortality outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter cohort study.

SETTINGS

Ten ICUs across five tertiary hospitals in Fujian Province, China.

METHODS

Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip strength at three time points: ICU admission, ICU discharge, and hospital discharge. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify muscle strength trajectories, while multinomial logistic analysis determined predictors based on baseline characteristics. Mortality outcomes were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted by inverse probability of treatment weighting.

RESULTS

Among 317 patients, with 37 deaths within 12 months, three muscle strength trajectories were identified: Low-Level Stability (38.17 %), Medium-Level Improvement (47.00 %), and High-Level Improvement (14.83 %). Older age (≥65 years), female gender, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and lower fat-free mass were associated with a higher likelihood of being in the Low-Level Stability group. After adjustment, the Medium-Level Improvement group had a 0.067 times lower 1-month mortality risk (95 % CI: 0.005-0.825) compared to the Low-Level Stability group, with no significant differences at 6 or 12 months (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Three distinct muscle strength trajectories were identified: Low-Level Stability, Medium-Level Improvement, and High-Level Improvement. Older age, female sex, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and lower fat-free mass were strongly associated with the Low-Level Stability group, which had higher 1-month mortality.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Findings from this study underscore the importance of early identification of Low-Level Stability patients, particularly those who are older, female, require prolonged mechanical ventilation, or have reduced fat-free mass. Tailored early rehabilitation in these high-risk individuals may offer substantial clinical benefit.

Temporal muscle thickness as a feasible sarcopenia marker and outcome predictor after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Sarcopenia has already been investigated as a prognostic marker for many different cancerous and non-cancerous diseases to prognosticate the clinical course. While being a sarcopenia marker, temporal muscle thickness (TMT) has gained increasing interest in recent years as a potential outcome predictor. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between TMT and the neurological outcome of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

METHODS

A retrospective database consisting of consecutive aSAH cases treated from 01/2003 to 06/2016 was used. The initial computed tomography examinations were used to calculate the mean TMT values. Our primary endpoint was unfavorable outcome at 6 months defined as modified Rankin Scale > 3. Secondary endpoints included the occurrence of angiographic vasospasm and intracranial hypertension (> 20mmHg) during aSAH, in-hospital mortality and development of cerebral infarcts. Univariable analyses were conducted and multivariable analyses were performed on significant findings.

RESULTS

The mean TMT value of the final cohort (n = 945) was 7.49mm ± 1.68mm. Of the baseline characteristics, a significant relationship with TMT mean value was found for age (p < 0.0001), sex (p < 0.0001), obesity (p = 0.001), hypothyroidism (p = 0.001), and hyperuricemia (p = 0.026). In the final multivariable analysis, the following study endpoints were independently associated with mTMT: in-hospital mortality (p = 0.035, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.86 per-mm-increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-0.99), unfavorable outcome at 6 months (p = 0.018, aOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76-0.98), intracranial hypertension (p = 0.002, aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.29) and the occurrence of angiographic vasospasm (p = 0.011, aOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found significant correlations between mTMT and the clinical course and outcome of patients with aSAH. Further studies in different patient populations are needed to validate the clinical relevance and prognostic value of TMT for aSAH patients.

Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and 28-day mortality of ICU patients: A retrospective cohort study from MIMIC-IV database

BACKGROUND

Prior studies have linked the aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) with negative health outcomes in the elderly and specific populations. However, the impact of AAR on the prognosis of the entire population in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the correlation between AAR and the mortality among adult ICU patients.

METHOD

Patient data were retrieved from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database and stratified into quartiles by AAR. Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier curves was conducted to compare survival across quartiles. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, with secondary outcomes including 60-day, 90-day, and 365-day mortality, along with ICU-free, ventilator-free, and vasopressor-free days within the first 28 days. The association between AAR and mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis complemented by a restricted cubic spline. Furthermore, the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) was used as an external validation cohort for sensitivity analysis.

RESULT

The study included 20,225 patients with a mean age of 63.7 ± 17.5 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a higher risk of 28-day mortality for patients with higher AAR (log-rank P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the AAR was significantly related to 28-day mortality (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06, P < 0.001) and other mortality benchmarks, exhibiting an inverted L-shaped relationship. The inflection point of the AAR for 28-day mortality was 2.60. Below this threshold, each unit increase in the AAR was associated with a 19% rise in the risk of 28-day mortality (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11-1.27, P < 0.001), with a plateau observed above this threshold. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses further confirmed the robustness and generalizability of the study.

CONCLUSION

AAR demonstrated a significant association with 28-day, 60-day, 90-day, and 365-day mortality, characterized by an inverted L-shaped pattern.

Cystatin C-derived measures of renal function as risk factors for mortality and renal replacement therapy in the critically ill - An analysis of the SWECRIT cohort

PURPOSE

Assess if cystatin C-derived measures of kidney function are associated with mortality in septic- and non-septic intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

METHODS

Data from adult patients staying >24 h in four ICUs in Sweden from November 2015-December 2018 included. Outcomes were mortality and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) due to acute kidney injury. Associations between cystatin C-estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) and shrunken pore syndrome (SPS) and outcomes were assessed with Cox-regression in unadjusted and analyses adjusted for sex, age, illness severity, chronic kidney disease and creatinine. SPS was defined as a ratio between eGFRcys and eGFRcreatinine <0.6.

RESULTS

In total, 4455 patients were included in the analysis, of which 32 % had sepsis. SPS was present in 7.4 % of the cohort, and 90-day mortality was 30.8 %. In sepsis- and non-sepsis patients, SPS and eGFRcys were associated with 90-day-, 1-year mortality and RRT in unadjusted analyses. In an adjusted analysis, SPS was associated with 1-year mortality in sepsis patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.4, 95 % CI 1.1-1.9, p = 0.021), and eGFRcys was associated with RRT in both sepsis and non-sepsis patients (HR 3.1, 95 % CI 1.6-6.0, p < 0.001, eGFRcys <20 vs ≥60 ml/min/1.73m2). No other associations between eGFRcys, SPS and mortality were detected in adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our finding that SPS is more robustly associated with mortality in sepsis patients than in non-sepsis patients suggests that the association between SPS and mortality may depend on underlying pathophysiology. A cystatin C-based estimate of GFR is independently associated with RRT in sepsis and non-sepsis.

Association of muscularity status with clinical and physical function outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) critical care research underscored the importance of muscularity on patient outcomes. This study investigates the association between skeletal muscle mass and quality with clinical and physical function outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL from database inception to April 24, 2024, for studies using objective methods to evaluate muscularity in critically ill adults with COVID-19, without language restrictions. Co-primary outcomes were overall mortality and muscle strength. Random-effect meta-analyses were performed in RevMan 5.4.1. We included 20 studies (N = 1818), assessing muscularity via computed tomography (twelve studies), ultrasound (seven studies), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (one study); none had low risk of bias. In analyses of high vs low muscularity, high muscle mass was significantly associated with lower overall mortality (nine studies; risk ratio = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.98; P = 0.03). When muscularity was analyzed as a continuous variable, COVID-19 survivors had higher skeletal muscle area (SMA) (13 studies; mean difference [MD] = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.03-2.33; P = 0.05) confirmed by sensitivity analysis using standardized MD (0.23, 95% CI 0.05-0.42, P = 0.01) and significantly higher muscle quality (five studies; standardized MD = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.20-0.70; P = 0.0004). Muscle strength findings were inconsistent: one study showed significant correlations between muscle strength with muscle mass parameters (r = 0.365-0.375, P < 0.001) whereas another found no association. In critically ill adults with COVID-19, high muscle mass was associated with lower mortality risk. Survivors had significantly higher SMA and muscle quality. Findings on physical function outcomes remain inconclusive (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022384155).

The use of protein supplements in children with cerebral palsy: A scoping literature review

The aim of this scoping review was to examine the literature regarding the use of protein supplements to improve macroscopic muscle properties in a pediatric population in general, and more specifically in children with cerebral palsy. Based on our prospectively registered protocol (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8DM9G), a systematic literature search was performed in five databases and two clinical registers. Studies were selected by two independent reviewers using predefined selection criteria, and data were summarized using a data extraction form. A broader search on adults with cerebral palsy and the general pediatric population was considered to be relevant due to the limited number of studies conducted in children with cerebral palsy. After deduplication, 5207 records were identified and screened. A total of 18 publications were included in the current review. Two studies were performed in individuals with cerebral palsy, eight in healthy children, two in children with respiratory problems, one in critically ill children, one in children with end-stage liver disease, one in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for a pediatric malignancy, one in children with Pompe disease and two in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The different muscle parameters reported were muscle volume, muscle mass, fat-free mass and fat-free mass index, lean body mass and lean body mass percentage, arm muscle area and muscle cross-sectional area of the arm, thigh and calf. The heterogeneity of the included studies and their moderate quality level made it difficult to draw solid overall conclusions. More research is needed on the use of protein supplements in children with cerebral palsy. However, supplementation with branched-chain amino acids, in particular leucine, might be promising.

ALBI-sarcopenia score as a predictor of treatment outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma

The recently developed ALBI-Sarcopenia score has demonstrated effectiveness in predicting mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), emerging as a crucial factor in guiding treatment decisions. To assess the utility of the ALBI-Sarcopenia score in predicting the success of HCC treatment. A prospective study involving 262 liver cirrhosis with HCC patients were assigned to various treatment strategies according to Barcelona clinics of liver disease (BCLC) classification. Patients were followed up for 12 months reporting laboratory data, sarcopenia, ALBI-Sarcopenia score, and outcomes. Sarcopenia was prevalent in 43.1% (48.35% males and 31.25% females, P = 0.042). Most patients were HCV-positive (88.9%) and classified as CTP A (55.7%) or BCLC B (54.2%). Over the study period, TACE was the most administered treatment (41.2% at baseline), followed by a progressive shift toward best supportive care as disease severity increased. Complete response rates declined from 31.7% at 1 month to 21.4% at 12 months, while progressive disease rates increased from 21.8 to 37.8% over the same period. At 12 months, the ALBI-Sarcopenia score demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for treatment response (AUC:0.69, p = 0.001), outperforming both the ALBI (AUC: 0.631, p = 0.001) and MELD (AUC:0.623, p = 0.003) scores. Logistic regression identified ALBI-Sarcopenia as a significant independent predictor of response at 1 month (OR:1.25, 95% CI:0.881-1.971, p = 0.002) and 12 months (OR:2.189, 95% CI:0.992-4.937, p = 0.001). The ALBI-Sarcopenia score is a robust predictor of treatment outcomes in HCC, offering superior prognostic accuracy compared to traditional scoring systems, and enhancing patient stratification for optimized treatment planning.

Skeletal Muscle: A Critical Organ for Survival and Recovery in Critical Illness

The intensive care unit (ICU) environment is one of the most challenging for skeletal muscle health. Atrophy associated with clinical care is distinct from that seen with inactivity or immobilization in the absence of disease and is exacerbated by aging. The substantial muscle loss in the ICU is likely due to the presence of inflammation, elevated proteolysis, bedrest, and undernutrition. Skeletal muscle parameters at admission are predictive of mortality and other clinically important outcomes. Treatment goals to mitigate muscle loss are early mobilization and adequate nutrient supply, especially protein, using an individualized approach to support skeletal muscle maintenance and recovery.

An Indian Consensus on Sarcopenia: Epidemiology, Etiology, Clinical Impact, Screening, and Therapeutic Approaches

The burden of sarcopenia in India continues to be of significant concern. Its diagnosis is challenging due to the lack of standardized cutoffs for assessing muscle strength, quantity, and function among Indians. This consensus aims to identify features of sarcopenia in Indians and provide culturally relevant recommendations for its management. An expert panel from diverse medical specialties across India arrived at a consensus using the modified Delphi method. The panel recommended that a baseline handgrip strength (HGS) cutoff value of <27.5 kg in males and 18.0 kg in females be defined as low muscle strength for the Indian population. All patients with comorbidities should be screened for sarcopenia. In people with sarcopenia, resistance exercise and nutrition with specialized nutrients such as protein, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), and micronutrients for at least 3 months were recommended as key interventions.

Sarcopenia, myosteatosis and inflammation are independent prognostic factors of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU

The aims of our study were to assess the correlations between sarcopenia and myosteatosis assessed by CT-scan at T4 and/or L3 levels and inflammation in critically ill COVID patients on ICU admission, and their respective prognostic value on day 90 death (D90-death). It is a retrospective monocentric study. Sarcopenia was defined by skeletal muscle cross sectional surface area (CSA) and myosteatosis by skeletal muscle density (SMD) at L3 and T4 levels. Inflammatory biomarkers were collected on ICU admission. Of the 239 patients, 74 died by D90; 66.6% get sarcopenia on ICU admission. CSA at T4 level was an independent risk factor for D90-death (1.66[1.03; 2.66]; p = 0.04), as were procalcitonin (2.03[1.2; 3.43]; p = 0.01) and IL-6 levels (1.56[0.96; 2.54]; p = 0.07). In addition, we found correlation factors of 0.79 (p < 0.01) between SMD at T4 and L3 levels, and a correlation factor of 0.64 (p < 0.01) between CSA at T4 and L3 levels.These results indicate a poorer prognosis following a decrease in muscle surface area, a decrease in density, and an increase in inflammatory biomarkers such as Il6. It also suggests that incorporating indices of sarcopenia with inflammatory biomarkers may improve prognostic accuracy.

The effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on muscle and whole-body protein synthesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Sarcopenia describes the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength that is driven, at least in part, by an imbalance between rates of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and muscle protein breakdown. An expanding body of literature has examined the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) ingestion on MPS rates in older adults, with mixed findings.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of n-3 PUFA ingestion in stimulating rates of MPS and whole-body protein synthesis in healthy adults and clinical populations.

DATA SOURCES

Searches were conducted of the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases from inception until December 2022 for articles on randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of n-3 PUFA ingestion vs a control or placebo on rates of MPS and whole-body protein synthesis. The search yielded 302 studies, of which 8 were eligible for inclusion.

DATA EXTRACTION

The random effects inverse-variance model was used and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95%CIs were calculated to assess the pooled effect. Risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool.

DATA ANALYSIS

The main analysis indicated no effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on MPS rates (k = 6; SMD: 0.03; 95%CI, -0.35 to 0.40; I2 = 30%; P = .89). Subgroup analysis based on age, n-3 PUFA dose, duration of supplementation, and method used to measure fractional synthetic rate also revealed no effect of n-3 PUFA ingestion on MPS. In contrast, the main analysis demonstrated an effect of n-3 PUFA ingestion on increasing whole-body protein synthesis rates (k = 3; SMD: 0.51; 95%CI, 0.12-0.90; I2 = 0%; P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

n-3 PUFA ingestion augments the stimulation of whole-body protein synthesis rates in healthy adults and clinical populations.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. 42022366986.

Association Between the Ultrasound Evaluation of Muscle Mass and Adverse Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT)-derived low muscle mass is associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. Muscle ultrasound is a promising strategy for quantitating muscle mass. We evaluated the association between baseline ultrasound rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA) and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Secondary outcomes were the determinants of RF-CSA, and the diagnostic performance of RF-CSA after adjustment for body size.

METHODS

A prospective, single-center, observational cohort study was conducted in 3 ICUs (general, neuroscience, coronavirus disease-2019 [COVID-19]) of a university-affiliated hospital. Consecutive, mechanically ventilated patients with predicted length of stay >72 hours were included. RF-CSA was assessed at the dominant leg by ultrasound. Association with ICU mortality was tested using multivariable logistic regression. Diagnostic performance of RF-CSA was compared after adjustment by sex (CSA-sex), body surface area (CSA-BSA), and squared height (CSA-H2).

RESULTS

A total of 316 patients were enrolled: age 69 [60-76], 211 men and 183 ICU survivors. Older age (odds ratio, OR [95% confidence interval, CI], 1.03 [1.01-1.05]), the type of ICU (neuroscience: 0.82 [0.38-1.79], COVID-19: 4.1 [2.01-8.38]), a higher modified Nutrition and Rehabilitation Investigators Consortium (NUTRIC) score (1.43 [1.21-1.70]), and a lower RF-CSA (0.41 [0.29-0.58]) were associated with ICU mortality. Baseline RF-CSA was lower in women, with higher nutritional risk, older age, and larger body size. Unadjusted RF-CSA had an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for ICU mortality of 0.720 [0.663-0.776], and this value was not significantly different from that of CSA-sex, CSA-BSA, and CSA-H2 (P = .1487).

CONCLUSIONS

Low baseline RF-CSA was associated with increased ICU mortality. Admission RF-CSA was lower in women, with high nutritional risk, in older subjects and with lower body size. Absolute muscle mass was significantly associated with mortality, with no significant increase in this relationship when adjusting for sex or body size.

Acute Skeletal Muscle Wasting is Associated with Prolonged Hospital Stay in Critical Illness with Brain Injury

BACKGROUND

Acute muscle wasting is common in critically ill patients, and this can lead to unfavorable clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with muscle wasting and to investigate the association between skeletal muscle wasting and prolonged hospital stay in critically ill patients with acute brain injury.

METHODS

This single-center prospective observational study was conducted in critically ill patients with acute brain injury who stayed in the intensive care unit for at least 1 week. The rectus femoris cross-sectional area was measured via ultrasound at baseline and a week after the first assessment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors that predicted prolonged hospital stay.

RESULTS

A total of 86 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 49.4 ± 16.9 years, 57% were male, and 46.5% had an admission diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The percentage change in the rectus femoris cross-sectional area was 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] - 19.8% to - 12.0%; p < 0.001), and 57% of all patients had acute muscle wasting. According to the univariate analysis, there was a significant association between prolonged hospital stay and acute muscle wasting (odds ratio [OR] 3.677; 95% CI 1.487-9.043; p = 0.005), mechanical ventilation status (OR 3.600; 95% CI 1.455-8.904; p = 0.006), and Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR 0.888; 95% CI 0.808-0.976; p = 0.014) at intensive care unit admission. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that acute muscle wasting (OR 3.449; 95% CI 1.344-8.853; p = 0.010) was an independent risk factor for prolonged hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

There was considerable muscle wasting in critically ill patients with brain injuries over a 1-week period. Acute muscle wasting was associated with prolonged hospital stay in critically ill patients with acute brain injury.

Rehabilitation effects of acupuncture on the diaphragmatic dysfunction in respiratory insufficiency: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Mechanical ventilation after respiratory insufficiency can induce diaphragm dysfunction through various hypothesized mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the rehabilitative effect of acupuncture on diaphragm function in patients with respiratory insufficiency using meta-analysis and summarised the rules of acupoints through association rules analysis.

METHODS

Articles (published from January 2000 to February 2024) were retrieved from the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, and Wanfang. Two researchers conducted literature selection, data extraction, and statistical analysis independently. The risk of bias was assessed utilizing the Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.4 software, and the quality of each outcome evidence was assessed via the online software GRADEpro GDT. The regularity of acupoint selection was summarized using association rules analysis. This study is registered on PROSPERO, number CRD42024526705.

RESULTS

Eleven articles were eventually included, all of which were of low to moderate quality. Results of the meta-analysis showed a significant increase in diaphragmatic thickening fraction (MD 3.40 [1.52, 5.27]) and diaphragmatic excursion (MD 0.95 [0.58, 1.31]) in patients with respiratory insufficiency after acupuncture treatment. Also, OI (MD 28.52 [15.93, 41.11]) and PaO2 (MD 7.18 [2.22, 12.13]) were significantly elevated and PaCO2 (MD -6.94 [-12.30, -1.59]) was decreased. Mechanical ventilation time (MD-1.86 [-2.28, -1.45]) was also significantly improved. The overall quality of the outcome evidence is deemed moderate. Association rules analysis showed that ST36, RN4, RN6, and others are core acupoints for the treatment of diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients with respiratory insufficiency by acupuncture.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture shows potential in the rehabilitation of patients with respiratory insufficiency and may serve as a complementary and alternative therapy for related conditions. We suggest the use of ST36 as a core acupoint, in combination with other acupoints. Due to the potential publication bias and high heterogeneity of the current data, further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.

Ratio of red blood cell distribution width to albumin level and risk of mortality in sarcopenic obesity

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell distribution width and albumin ratio (RAR) levels and mortality in adult patients with sarcopenic obesity in the United States. The study included 1,361 adult patients with sarcopenic obesity from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2006). The X-tile was used to determine the optimal subgroup thresholds for RAR values, and propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to reduce baseline bias. Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and restricted cubic spline analysis were utilized to assess the relationship between RAR levels and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analysis and the Subpopulation Treatment Effect Pattern Plot were employed to determine survival advantages across different subgroups. Time-dependent ROC analysis to evaluate the accuracy of RAR level in predicting survival outcomes at different time points. Post-PSM multifactorial Cox regression analyses revealed that RAR was a significant independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 1.487, 95% CI: 1.259-1.756) and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.487, 95% CI: 1.260-1.758) in patients with sarcopenic obesity. The survival advantage was consistent across subgroups. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated an approximate S-shaped association between RAR levels and mortality. Time-dependent ROC curves demonstrate that the areas under the all-cause mortality curves at the RAR level for 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year are 0.79, 0.66, 0.64, and 0.63, respectively. The areas under the cardiovascular mortality curve are 0.80, 0.70, 0.66, and 0.61, respectively. Moreover, in comparison to the baseline model lacking covariates, the AUC values of the joint model exhibited heightened levels at various time points. Therefore, We demonstrated that the RAR level is an independent prognostic factor for mortality risk in the American population with sarcopenic obesity, and it is reasonable to consider the RAR level as a simple and effective risk prediction tool.

Association between possible sarcopenia, all-cause mortality, and adverse health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults in China

The relationship between possible sarcopenia and mortality remains ambiguous within Asian populations. To clarify this, we investigated the association in older adults residing in Chinese communities. Utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this population-based cohort study included individuals aged ≥ 60 years, followed from 2011 to 2012 through 2020. Possible sarcopenia was defined in accordance with the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze its impact on mortality, while exploratory analyses were conducted to investigate the associations of possible sarcopenia with chronic diseases, functional independence, and hospitalization frequency. The study encompassed 5,160 participants (median age: 66 years), nearly half of whom (48.8%) were identified with possible sarcopenia. Over a 9-year follow-up period, there were 1216 recorded deaths. Analysis indicated that individuals with possible sarcopenia faced a significantly elevated mortality risk compared to their counterparts (HR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.58-2.03; P < 0.001). Further, subgroup analyses confirmed a strong association between possible sarcopenia and all-cause mortality across various subgroups, including those related to sex, obesity status, and living environment. Additionally, exploratory analyses revealed that possible sarcopenia was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of heart disease (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.34, P = 0.014) and stroke (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.19-1.68, P < 0.001), as well as reduced functional independence (β = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.24--0.10, P < 0.001). Possible sarcopenia was also associated with a higher frequency of hospitalizations at baseline (Exp(β) = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.25-1.81, P < 0.001), although this association was no longer significant during the follow-up period. In conclusion, in Chinese community-dwelling older adults, possible sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, several chronic diseases, and functional dependence. Thus, alleviating or preventing possible sarcopenia may improve health outcomes and extend the lifespan of these individuals.

Meeting complex multidimensional needs in older patients and their families during and beyond critical illness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To highlight the emerging crisis of critically ill elderly patients and review the unique burden of multidimensional morbidity faced by these patients and caregivers and potential interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Physical, psychological, and cognitive sequelae after critical illness are frequent, durable, and robust across the international ICU outcome literature. Elderly patients are more vulnerable to the multisystem sequelae of critical illness and its treatment and the resultant multidimensional morbidity may be profound, chronic, and significantly affect functional independence, transition to the community, and quality of life for patients and families. Recent data reinforce the importance of baseline functional status, health trajectory, and chronic illness as key determinants of long-term functional disability after ICU. These risks are even more pronounced in older patients.

SUMMARY

The current article is an overview of the outcomes of older survivors of critical illness, putative interventions to mitigate the long-term morbidity of patients, and the consequences for families and caregivers. A multimodal longitudinal approach designed to follow patients for one or more years may foster a better understanding of multidimensional morbidity faced by vulnerable older patients and families and provides a detailed understanding of recovery trajectories in this unique population to optimize outcome, goals of care directives, and ongoing informed consent to ICU treatment.

Effect of sarcopenia on mortality in acute stroke patients receiving endovascular treatment

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effect of sarcopenia on mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by anterior circulation large artery occlusion who underwent endovascular treatment.

METHODS

Acute ischemic stroke patients (n = 194) treated with mechanical thrombectomy who underwent chest computed tomography between 2019 and 2022 (median age, 69 [interquartile range: 61-77], 95 females, 99 males) were evaluated retrospectively. The cross-sectional area and density of the pectoralis muscle [pectoralis muscle area (PMA) and pectoralis muscle density (PMD)] at the level of the aortic arch and the erector spinae muscle at the T12 level [erector spinae muscle area (ESMA) and erector spinae muscle density (ESMD)] were measured. The association between skeletal muscle parameters and mortality outcomes was investigated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The 90-day mortality rate was 32% in the study population (n = 62). The ROC analysis revealed that ESMD [area under the curve (AUC): 0.765] and PMD (AUC: 0.759) performed best in the prediction of 90-day mortality. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, PMD [odds ratio (OR): 0.896; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.846-0.948; p < 0.001], ESMA (OR: 0.929; 95% CI: 0.878-0.983; p = 0.011), and ESMD (OR: 0.947; 95% CI: 0.913-0.983; p = 0.004), but not PMA, were independent risk factors for 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

PMD, ESMA, and ESMD may be risk factors for 90-day mortality after mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.

Association of frailty and sarcopenia with short-term mortality in older critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

There is still no study on the use of the SARC-CalF questionnaire for older critically ill patients. Moreover, there is limited evidence on whether a combination of sarcopenia and frailty can provide incremental improvements in risk stratification for older critically ill patients.

METHODS

A total of 653 patients older than 60 years were recruited. We used the clinical frailty scale (CFS) and SARC-CalF questionnaire to assess the frailty status and sarcopenia risk, respectively, of older patients shortly after admission to the ICU. The effect of frailty and sarcopenia risk on ICU mortality and 30-day mortality was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 147 (22.5%) patients died in the ICU, and 187 (28.6%) patients died within 30 days after ICU admission. The CFS score was associated with increased ICU mortality [per 1-score increase: odds ratio (OR) = 1.222, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.003-1.489] and 30-day mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.307, 95% CI: 1.079-1.583). The SARC-CalF score was also associated with increased ICU mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.204, 95% CI: 1.120-1.294) and 30-day mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.247, 95% CI: 1.163-1.337). The addition of the CFS + SARC-CalF score to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II improved discrimination and reclassified ICU and 30-day mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia risk assessed by the SARC-CalF questionnaire provided independent prognostic information for older critically ill patients. A combination of sarcopenia and frailty improved the prediction of mortality for older critically ill patients and thus might be useful in the clinical decision-making process.

Cluster analysis of thoracic muscle mass using artificial intelligence in severe pneumonia

Severe pneumonia results in high morbidity and mortality despite advanced treatments. This study investigates thoracic muscle mass from chest CT scans as a biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes in ICU patients with severe pneumonia. Analyzing electronic medical records and chest CT scans of 778 ICU patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia from January 2016 to December 2021, AI-enhanced 3D segmentation was used to assess thoracic muscle mass. Patients were categorized into clusters based on muscle mass profiles derived from CT scans, and their effects on clinical outcomes such as extubation success and in-hospital mortality were assessed. The study identified three clusters, showing that higher muscle mass (Cluster 1) correlated with lower in-hospital mortality (8% vs. 29% in Cluster 3) and improved clinical outcomes like extubation success. The model integrating muscle mass metrics outperformed conventional scores, with an AUC of 0.844 for predicting extubation success and 0.696 for predicting mortality. These findings highlight the strong predictive capacity of muscle mass evaluation over indices such as APACHE II and SOFA. Using AI to analyze thoracic muscle mass via chest CT provides a promising prognostic approach in severe pneumonia, advocating for its integration into clinical practice for better outcome predictions and personalized patient management.

Skeletal Muscle Mass Assessment in Pediatric Patients: Development of a Normative Equation and Assessment of Factors Associated With a Low Skeletal Muscle Mass in PICU Patients

OBJECTIVES

To develop an equation for defining a low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in children and to investigate risk factors and outcomes associated with low SMM in critically ill pediatric patients.

DESIGN

Single-center retrospective pediatric cohorts, 2011-2018.

SETTING

Tertiary Emergency and Critical Care Center of Kyushu University Hospital in Japan.

PATIENTS

We studied two cohorts of pediatric patients 1-15 years old who underwent abdominal CT at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3). First a cohort of trauma patients presented to the emergency department in whom we developed an SMM regression equation. Second, a cohort of patients who had undergone abdominal CT within 3 days of PICU admission.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The equation for estimating normal SMM used sex, age, and weight. Low SMM was defined as less than 80% of normal. In the 112 patients in the PICU cohort, median (range) age was 68 (13-191) months, and 83 (74.1%) had underlying disease. There was low SMM in 54 patients (48.2%). Regarding associations, using odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI, we found that low dietary intake (OR 4.33 [95% CI, 1.37-13.70]; p = 0.013) and the presence of underlying disease (OR 7.44 [95% CI, 2.10-26.30]; p = 0.002) were independently associated with greater odds of low SMM. Low SMM, compared with normal SMM, was also associated with longer hospital stays (42.5 d vs. 20.5 d; p = 0.007; β, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.09-2.33; p = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective PICU cohort from a single center in Japan, we found that low SMM at PICU admission was present in almost half the cases. Low SMM, as defined by being less than 80% of the normal, was associated with greater odds of low dietary intake and underlying chronic disease. Furthermore, low SMM was associated with longer hospital stays.

Appraisal of a newly developed ALBI-sarcopenia score as a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the combined Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI)/sarcopenia score as a newly developed prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a focus on its utility in predicting mortality.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted on HCC patients who were followed for 1 year or until death. Sarcopenia was assessed radiologically by computed tomography at the level of L3. The study consisted of two sets: a development set in which the new ALBI-sarcopenia score was created, comprising 262 HCC patients, followed by an internal validation set with 100 patients.

RESULTS

The development cohort primarily included males (69.5%), aged 59.6 ± 8.09 years. In patients with sarcopenia, the ALBI score was -2.03 ± 0.42 ( P  < 0.006), the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 11.29 ± 2.43 ( P  < 0.001*), and the MELD-sarcopenia score was 21.29 ± 2.43 ( P  < 0.001*). The distribution of barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) staging was as follows: BCLC A 18 (15.9%), BCLC B 63 (55.8%) and BCLC C 32 (28.3%) ( P  < 0.001*), with a notable association with higher mortality ( P  < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified sarcopenia and ALBI scores as independent predictors of mortality in HCC ( P  < 0.001*). In the development set, the ALBI-sarcopenia score successfully predicted mortality at a cutoff >-11 with an area under a curve of 0.837 (95% CI, 0.784-0.889), while in the validation set, it predicted mortality at a cutoff >-11.55 with an area under a curve of 0.842 (95% CI, 0.753-0.930).

CONCLUSION

The newly introduced ALBI-sarcopenia score has demonstrated superior effectiveness in comparison to MELD-sarcopenia score, overcoming the shortcomings associated MELD score in forecasting outcomes for patients with HCC.

Inflammaging in Multidrug-Resistant Sepsis of Geriatric ICU Patients and Healthcare Challenges

Multidrug-resistant sepsis (MDR) is a pressing concern in intensive care unit (ICU) settings, specifically among geriatric patients who experience age-related immune system changes and comorbidities. The aim of this review is to explore the clinical impact of MDR sepsis in geriatric ICU patients and shed light on healthcare challenges associated with its management. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Google Scholar search engines. Our search incorporated keywords such as "multidrug-resistant sepsis" OR "MDR sepsis", "geriatric ICU patients" OR "elderly ICU patients", and "complications", "healthcare burdens", "diagnostic challenges", and "healthcare challenges" associated with MDR sepsis in "ICU patients" and "geriatric/elderly ICU patients". This review explores the specific risk factors contributing to MDR sepsis, the complexities of diagnostic challenges, and the healthcare burden faced by elderly ICU patients. Notably, the elderly population bears a higher burden of MDR sepsis (57.5%), influenced by various factors, including comorbidities, immunosuppression, age-related immune changes, and resource-limited ICU settings. Furthermore, sepsis imposes a significant economic burden on healthcare systems, with annual costs exceeding $27 billion in the USA. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing MDR sepsis in geriatric ICU patients and the need for tailored interventions to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Association between body composition and mortality in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

AIM

To ascertain the association between body composition, including muscle mass and adiposity, and patient mortality in those requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was undertaken of all patients with acute respiratory failure requiring veno-venous (VV) ECMO between January 2015 and December 2019. Automated image segmentation software was used to quantify the cross-sectional area and average radiodensity (in Hounsfield units) of different muscle and fat compartments at the L3 level of whole-body computed tomography (CT) images taken within 48 h of initiation of ECMO support. The primary endpoint was 30-day post-ECMO initiation all-cause mortality. Logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between CT measurements, co-morbidities, and 30-day survival.

RESULTS

The study included 189 patients (age = 43.8 ± 14.6, sex = 42.3% female). There was no significant association between 30-day survival status and cross-sectional area of muscle or fat. Muscle attenuation (psoas, long spine, and abdominal muscles respectively) at the L3 level were significantly lower in those who died within 30 days of ECMO cannulation (p<0.05). On multivariable analysis including age, sex, and pre-existing respiratory comorbidities, psoas muscle attenuation was an independent predictor of survival at 30 days (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94 to 1.00; p=0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced psoas muscle attenuation is associated with poorer survival outcomes at 30 days post-ECMO cannulation in patients who received VV ECMO support for respiratory failure. Cross-sectional areas of muscle and fat compartments did not correlate with survival outcomes at 30 days even when corrected for height and sex.

Muscularity of older trauma patients at intensive care unit admission, association with functional outcomes, and relationship with frailty: A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Older individuals are at an increased risk of delayed recovery following a traumatic injury. Measurement of muscularity and frailty at hospital admission may aid with prognostication and risk stratification.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe muscularity at intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients admitted following trauma and assess the relationship between muscularity and clinical, long-term functional outcomes and frailty at ICU admission.

METHODS

This retrospective study utilised data from a prospective observational study investigating frailty in patients aged ≥50 years, admitted to the ICU following trauma. Patients were eligible if they had a Computed Tomography (CT) scan including the third lumbar vertebra at ICU admission. Specialist software was used to quantify CT-derived skeletal muscle cross-sectional area. Muscularity status was classified as normal or low using published sex-specific cut-points. Demographic data, frailty, clinical, and long-term functional outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended and EQ-5DL-5L Visual analogue scale and utility score) were extracted from the original study.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were screened; 71 patients had a CT scan on admission with 66 scans suitable for muscle assessment. Patients with low muscularity (n = 25, 38%) were older and had a higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and lower body mass index than patients with normal muscularity. Low muscularity was associated with frailty at admission (32% vs 5%, p = 0.005) but not with long term outcomes at 6 or 12 months. As a continuous variable, lower muscle cross-sectional area was associated with a poorer outcome on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended at 6 months (mean [standard deviation]: 150 [43] and 180 [44], respectively; p = 0.014), no association was observed after adjustment for age p = 0.43).

CONCLUSION

In a population of older adults hospitalised following trauma, low muscularity at ICU admission was prevalent. Low muscularity was associated with frailty but not long-term functional outcomes. Larger studies are warranted to better understand the relationship between muscularity and long-term functional outcomes.

The identification of an optimal body size parameter to adjust skeletal muscle area on chest CT in COVID-19 patients

Objectives

The most efficient way to adjust skeletal muscle area (SMA) derived from chest CT to body size remains unclear. We hypothesized that vertebral body area (VBA) measurement would allow such efficient adjustment.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study of chest CT imaging in a cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients. We measured paravertebral SMA at T5 level and T5 vertebral body anteroposterior length, width, and area. We used linear regression and multivariable modelling to assess the association of VBA with SMA.

Results

In 48 COVID-19 patients in ICU, T5 VBA could be easily derived from simple width and anteroposterior length linear measurements. T5 VBA (measured manually or estimated from width and length) performed similarly to height (R2 of 0.22) as an adjustment variable for SMA, with R2 of 0.23 and 0.22, respectively. Gender had the strongest correlation with SMA (R2 = 0.28). Adding height or age to a model using gender and VBA did not improve correlation.

Conclusions

Gender and estimated VBA from simple linear measurements at T5 level on CT images can be utilized for adjustment of SMA without the need for height. Validation of these findings in larger cohorts of critically ill patients is now needed.

The effectiveness of protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise programs among community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The combination of protein supplementation and resistance exercise shows promise for improving and maintaining muscle mass, strength, and performance in older adults with sarcopenia. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of this combination on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of 4 electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the MEDLINE Library. The search covered literature from January 2013 to January 2023 and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of each study using the standard critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Meta-analysis was performed with the JBI Sumari program.

RESULTS

The review included 7 randomized controlled trials and 1 quasi-experimental study, encompassing a total of 854 participants aged 60 years and above. The study durations ranged from 10 weeks to 24 weeks. An analysis of standardized mean differences (SMDs) showed that protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise significantly increased muscle mass (SMD, 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13 to 1.78; p<0.05) and muscle strength (SMD, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.56; p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the limited number of randomized controlled trials restricts the robustness of our conclusions, the evidence suggests that protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise is effective in enhancing muscle mass and strength in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia.

The critically ill older patient with sepsis: a narrative review

Sepsis is a significant public health concern, particularly affecting individuals above 70 years in developed countries. This is a crucial fact due to the increasing aging population, their heightened vulnerability to sepsis, and the associated high mortality rates. However, the morbidity and long-term outcomes are even more notable. While many patients respond well to timely and appropriate interventions, it is imperative to enhance efforts in identifying, documenting, preventing, and treating sepsis. Managing sepsis in older patients poses greater challenges and necessitates a comprehensive understanding of predisposing factors and a heightened suspicion for diagnosing infections and assessing the risk of sudden deterioration into sepsis. Despite age often being considered an independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity, recent research emphasizes the pivotal roles of frailty, disease severity, and comorbid conditions in influencing health outcomes. In addition, it is important to inquire about the patient's preferences and establish a personalized treatment plan that considers their potential for recovery with quality of life and functional outcomes. This review provides a summary of the most crucial aspects to consider when dealing with an old critically ill patient with sepsis.

Mediterranean Diet, Vitamin D, and Hypercaloric, Hyperproteic Oral Supplements for Treating Sarcopenia in Patients with Heart Failure-A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition and sarcopenia frequently affect patients with heart failure (HF), in which clinical outcomes and survival is decreased. Thus, appropriate nutritional screening and early nutrition support are highly recommended. Currently, nutritional support is not a standard of care in patients with HF, and the use of commercially available oral supplements (OSs) could provide an additional benefit to medical treatment in these patients.

AIM

To compare the effect of the Mediterranean diet in combination with hypercaloric, hyperproteic OS in patients with HF.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An open label, controlled clinical study in which patients were randomly assigned to receive a Mediterranean diet (control group) vs. hypercaloric, hyperproteic OS (intervention group) for twenty-four weeks. Thirty-eight patients were included; epidemiological, clinical, anthropometric, ultrasound (muscle echography of the rectus femoris muscle of the quadriceps and abdominal adipose tissue), and biochemical evaluations were performed. All patients received additional supplementation with vitamin D.

RESULTS

Baseline malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria was observed in 30% of patients, while 65.8% presented with sarcopenia. Body cell mass, lean mass, and body mass increased in the intervention group (absolute increase of 0.5, p = 0.03, 1.2 kg, p = 0.03, and 0.1 kg, p = 0.03 respectively). In contrast, fat mass increased in the control group (4.5 kg, p = 0.05). According to the RF ultrasound, adipose tissue, muscle area, and circumference tended to decrease in the intervention group; it is probable that 24 weeks was too short a period of time for evaluating changes in muscle area or circumference, as previously observed in another group of patients. In contrast, functionality, determined by the up-and-go test, significantly improved in all patients (difference 12.6 s, p < 0.001), including the control (10 s improvement, p < 0.001) and the intervention group (improvement of 8.9 s, p < 0.001). Self-reported QoL significantly increased in all groups, from 68.7 ± 22.2 at baseline to 77.7 ± 18.7 (p = 0.01). When heart functionality was evaluated, LVEF increased in the whole cohort (38.7 ± 16.6 vs. 42.2 ± 8.9, p < 0.01); this increase was higher in the intervention group (34.2 ± 16.1 at baseline vs. 45.0% ± 17.0 after 24 weeks, p < 0.05). Serum values of NT-proBNP also significantly decreased in the whole cohort (p < 0.01), especially in the intervention group (p = 0.02). After adjusting by age and sex, nutritional support, baseline LVEF, NT-proBNP, and body composition parameters of functionality tests were not associated with mortality or new hospital admissions in this cohort.

CONCLUSION

Nutritional support with hypercaloric, hyperproteic OS, Mediterranean diet, and vitamin D supplementation were associated with decreased NT-proBNP and improvements in LVEF, functionality, and quality of life in patients with HF, despite a significant decrease in hospital admissions.

Sarcopenia and Mortality in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

COVID-19 can manifest as either asymptomatic or progressing to a severe phase in some patients, which may require hospitalization. These patients may experience dyspnea and hypoxia, leading to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Studies have reported an increased risk of severe sarcopenia in COVID-19 patients during and after recovery. This narrative review aimed to summarize and synthesize available studies on the association between sarcopenia and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. A total of 22 studies conducted on hospitalized COVID-19 patients were included in this review. Of those, 17 studies reported a direct association, while 5 studies showed no association between sarcopenia and mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. It is important to maintain muscle quality and quantity in defense against COVID-19. The measurement of lean muscle mass should be included in the risk assessment of severely ill COVID-19 patients as part of the therapy plan.

Exploring fraity and sarcopenia in older adults admitted to acute medical unit, looking at prevalence, trajectory, and outcomes: A protocol testing the feasibility and acceptability of the TYSON study

BACKGROUND

Frailty and sarcopenia are common in older people and are associated with adverse outcomes including increased mortality and morbidity. It is unclear whether screening for frailty and sarcopenia would identify specific populations most at risk of poor outcomes during unplanned hospital admissions, which screening tools should be used and what the trajectory of both conditions are over the course of an admission. The TYSON study is an observational cohort study aiming to determine the prevalence, trajectory and outcomes associated with frailty and sarcopenia in different patient cohorts. This protocol tests the feasibility and acceptability of TYSON processes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine in acutely admitted medical patients who are older adults: Primary: The feasibility and acceptability of frailty and sarcopenia assessments; Secondary: (1) Differences in community and hospital frailty assessments, as assessed by the medical team, the patient and elderly care physicians, (2) The dynamic changes in frailty and sarcopenia during a hospital admission, and patient outcomes; Exploratory: Inflammatory and metabolic mediators associated with frailty and sarcopenia.

METHODS

A single centre, prospective observational study including patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted to an acute medical unit. Frailty assessments include the Rockwood clinical frailty and e-frailty index. Sarcopenia assessments include the Bilateral Anterior Thigh Thickness (BATT) measurement. Each participant will be asked to complete 5 visits, at day 0, day 3, day 7, month 3 and month 6. Blood samples will be collected to explore inflammatory and metabolic markers associated with frailty and sarcopenia. The study and protocol have been ethically approved by the Health Research Authority (REC 20/WA/0263).

DISCUSSION

The study will determine the feasibility and acceptability of frailty and sarcopenia assessments in an acute hospital setting, and inform on the prevalence, trajectory and associated outcomes of frailty and sarcopenia in this group of patients. An inflammatory and metabolic profile will be explored in frailty and sarcopenia.

Serum metabolomics analysis for quantification of muscle loss in critically ill patients: An explorative study

BACKGROUND

During Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, patients demonstrate up to 15% muscle loss per week, contributing to neuromuscular weakness, complicating recovery and delaying return to daily life. Biomarkers for muscle loss could aid in early detection of patients at risk and help guide resources to mitigate muscle loss, e.g. physical therapy and protein supplementation.

AIMS

To explore serum biomarkers for muscle mass and muscle loss in ICU patients using a metabolomics approach.

METHODS

Mechanically ventilated patients with an unplanned ICU admission between June and December 2021 were prospectively studied. The cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris muscle was assessed using ultrasound (RFcsa) and 188 serum metabolites were assessed using the Biocrates™ AbsoluteIDQ p180 kit for targeted metabolomics. Patients were eligible for analysis when a serum sample drawn within 5 days of ICU admission and at least 1 RFcsa were available. In patients with sequential RFcsa measurements, muscle loss was defined as the negative slope of the regression line fitted to the RFcsa measurements per patient in the first 10 days of ICU admission. Correlations between baseline metabolite concentrations and baseline muscle mass, as well as between baseline metabolite concentrations and muscle loss were assessed using Pearson's test for correlations. To correct for multiple testing, the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was used.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were eligible for analysis. Mean age was 62 (SD ± 9) years and the cohort was predominantly male (76%). Four metabolites correlated with baseline muscle mass: creatinine (R = 0.5, p = 0.041), glycerophospholipid PC_ae_C30_0 (R = 0.5, p = 0.034) and two acylcarnitines: C14_2 (R = 0.5, p = 0.042) and C10_2 (R = 0.5, p = 0.049). For muscle loss, significant associations were found for histidine (R = -0.8, p = 0.002) and three glycerophospholipids; PC_aa_C40_2 (R = 0.7, p = 0.015), PC_ae_C40_1 (R = 0.6, p = 0.032) and PC_aa_C42_1 (R = 0.6, p = 0.037). After correction for multiple testing, no significant associations remained.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory analysis found certain metabolites to be associated with muscle mass and muscle loss. Future research, specifically addressing these metabolites is necessary to confirm or refute an association with muscle loss and determine their role as potential muscle loss marker.

Applying the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria in patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection using computed tomography imaging

BACKGROUND

Patients with low muscle mass and acute SARS-CoV-2 infection meet the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) etiologic and phenotypic criteria to diagnose malnutrition, respectively. However, available cut-points to classify individuals with low muscle mass are not straightforward. Using computed tomography (CT) to determine low muscularity, we assessed the prevalence of malnutrition using the GLIM framework and associations with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort was conducted gathering patient data from various clinical resources. Patients admitted to the COVID-19 unit (March 2020 to June 2020) with appropriate/evaluable CT studies (chest or abdomen/pelvis) within the first 5 days of admission were considered eligible. Sex- and vertebral-specific skeletal muscle indices (SMI; cm2 /m2 ) from healthy controls were used to determine low muscle mass. Injury-adjusted SMI were derived, extrapolated from cancer cut-points and explored. Descriptive statistics and mediation analyses were completed.

RESULTS

Patients (n = 141) were 58.2 years of age and racially diverse. Obesity (46%), diabetes (40%), and cardiovascular disease (68%) were prevalent. Using healthy controls and injury-adjusted SMI, malnutrition prevalence was 26% (n = 36/141) and 50% (n = 71/141), respectively. Mediation analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in the effect of malnutrition on outcomes in the presence of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, supporting the mediating effects of severity of illness intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation, complex respiratory support, discharge status (all P values = 0.03), and 28-day mortality (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies involving the GLIM criteria should consider these collective findings in their design, analyses, and implementation.

Sarcopenia Predicts Adverse Prognosis in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

This study aims to assess whether sarcopenia can be used to predict prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) and if different diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and diverse regions where studies were conducted could affect prognostic outcomes, thus providing a preliminary basis for early identification and prediction of poor prognosis in HF.

Methods

The PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases were searched from inception until March 2023. Cohort studies evaluating the prognostic effect of sarcopenia in patients with HF were included. Two authors independently assessed the studies according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3 software. The study results were reported using a checklist of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses were used to report the study results.

Results

A total of 12 studies with 3696 HF patients were included. The results showed that the sarcopenia population had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR (hazard ratio) = 1.98, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.61-2.44) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06-1.45) compared to the non-sarcopenia population. Moreover, the subgroup analysis reported that different diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and diverse regions were statistically significant for all-cause mortality, except for the Europe subgroup (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.89-2.02). In the subgroup analysis of MACE, all subgroups were statistically significant except for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) (HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 0.86-2.25) and European subgroups (HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 0.86-2.25).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis, including all-cause mortality and MACE, in patients with HF. However, due to the adoption of various diagnostic criteria in different regions of the world, these results need further validation.

CT Scan-Derived Muscle, But Not Fat, Area Independently Predicts Mortality in COVID-19

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has demonstrated a highly variable disease course, from asymptomatic to severe illness and eventually death. Clinical parameters, as included in the 4C Mortality Score, can predict mortality accurately in COVID-19. Additionally, CT scan-derived low muscle and high adipose tissue cross-sectional areas (CSAs) have been associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Are CT scan-derived muscle and adipose tissue CSAs associated with 30-day in-hospital mortality in COVID-19, independent of 4C Mortality Score?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with COVID-19 seeking treatment at the ED of two participating hospitals during the first wave of the pandemic. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue CSAs were collected from routine chest CT-scans at admission. Pectoralis muscle CSA was demarcated manually at the fourth thoracic vertebra, and skeletal muscle and adipose tissue CSA was demarcated at the first lumbar vertebra level. Outcome measures and 4C Mortality Score items were retrieved from medical records.

RESULTS

Data from 578 patients were analyzed (64.6% men; mean age, 67.7 ± 13.5 years; 18.2% 30-day in-hospital mortality). Patients who died within 30 days demonstrated lower pectoralis CSA (median, 32.6 [interquartile range (IQR), 24.3-38.8] vs 35.4 [IQR, 27.2-44.2]; P = .002) than survivors, whereas visceral adipose tissue CSA was higher (median, 151.1 [IQR, 93.6-219.7] vs 112.9 [IQR, 63.7-174.1]; P = .013). In multivariate analyses, low pectoralis muscle CSA remained associated with 30-day in-hospital mortality when adjusted for 4C Mortality Score (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-1.00; P = .038).

INTERPRETATION

CT scan-derived low pectoralis muscle CSA is associated significantly with higher 30-day in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 independently of the 4C Mortality Score.

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Sarcopenia: Mechanism of Action and Potential Efficacy

Sarcopenia, a progressive disease characterized by a decline in muscle strength, quality, and mass, affects aging population worldwide, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Besides resistance exercise, various nutritional strategies, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation, have been sought to prevent this condition. This narrative review summarizes the current evidence on the effect and mechanism of n-3 PUFA on musculoskeletal health. Despite conflicting evidence, n-3 PUFA is suggested to benefit muscle mass and volume, with more evident effects with higher supplementation dose (>2 g/day). n-3 PUFA supplementation likely improves handgrip and quadriceps strength in the elderly. Improved muscle functions, measured by walking speed and time-up-to-go test, are also observed, especially with longer duration of supplementation (>6 months), although the changes are small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Lastly, n-3 PUFA supplementation may positively affect muscle protein synthesis response to anabolic stimuli, alleviating age-related anabolic resistance. Proposed mechanisms by which n-3 PUFA supplementation improves muscle health include 1. anti-inflammatory properties, 2. augmented expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway, 3. decreased intracellular protein breakdown, 4. improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function, 5. enhanced amino acid transport, and 6. modulation of neuromuscular junction activity. In conclusion, n-3 PUFAs likely improve musculoskeletal health related to sarcopenia, with suggestive effect on muscle mass, strength, physical performance, and muscle protein synthesis. However, the interpretation of the findings is limited by the small number of participants, heterogeneity of supplementation regimens, and different measuring protocols.

High prevalence of pre-existing sarcopenia in critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies admitted to the intensive care unit for sepsis or septic shock

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to evaluate body composition (BC) by computed tomography (CT) in hematologic malignancy (HM) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for sepsis or septic shock.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed BC and its impact on outcome of 186 patients at the 3rd lumbar (L3) and 12th thoracic vertebral levels (T12) using CT-scan performed before ICU admission.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 58.0 [47; 69] years. Patients displayed adverse clinical characteristics at admission with median [q1; q3] SAPS II and SOFA scores of 52 [40; 66] and 8 [5; 12], respectively. The mortality rate in the ICU was 45.7%. Overall survival rates at 1 month after admission in the pre-existing sarcopenic vs. non pre-existing sarcopenic patients were 47.9% (95% CI [37.6; 61.0]) and 55.0% (95% CI [41.6; 72.8]), p = 0.99), respectively, at the L3 level and 48.4% (95% CI [40.4; 58.0]) vs. 66.7% (95% CI [51.1; 87.0]), p = 0.062), respectively, at the T12 level.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia is assessable by CT scan at both the T12 and L3 levels and is highly prevalent in HM patients admitted to the ICU for severe infections. Sarcopenia may contribute to the high mortality rate in the ICU in this population.

Sarcopenia Is a Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

(1) Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used long-term enteral nutrition method, but little is known about the associated prognostic factors in patients with PEG. Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by a loss of skeletal muscle mass, increases the risk of developing various gastrointestinal disorders. Yet, the relationship between sarcopenia and the prognosis after PEG remains unclear. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent PEG consecutively from March 2008 to April 2020. We analyzed preoperative sarcopenia and the prognosis of patients after PEG. We defined sarcopenia as a skeletal muscle index at the level of the third lumbar vertebra of ≤29.6 cm²/m² for women and ≤36.2 cm²/m² for men. Cross-sectional computed tomography images of skeletal muscle at the level of the third lumbar vertebra were evaluated using DICOM image analysis software (OsiriX). The primary outcome was the difference in overall survival after PEG based on the status of sarcopenia. We also performed a covariate balancing propensity score matching analysis. (3) Results: Of 127 patients (99 men, 28 women), 71 (56%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia, and 64 patients died during the observation period. The median follow-up period did not differ between patients with and without sarcopenia (p = 0.5). The median survival time after PEG was 273 days in patients with sarcopenia and 1133 days in those without (p < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard model analyses identified three factors that were significantly associated with overall survival: sarcopenia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-5.4, p < 0.001), serum albumin level (adjusted HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.21-0.55, p < 0.001) and male sex (adjusted HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.7, p = 0.03). Propensity score-matched analysis (n = 37 vs. 37) showed that the survival rate was lower in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (at 90 days: 77% (95% CI, 59-88) vs. 92% (76-97), at 180 days: 56% (38-71) vs. 92% (76-97), and at one year: 35% (19-51) vs. 81% (63-91), p = 0.0014). (4) Conclusions: Sarcopenia was associated with poor prognosis in patients having undergone PEG.

Critical Care Management of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Certainties and Unknowns

Intensive care unit (ICU) admission is frequently required in patients with decompensated cirrhosis for organ support. This entity, known as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), is associated with high short-term mortality. ICU management of ACLF is complex, as these patients are prone to develop new organ failures and infectious or bleeding complications. Poor nutritional status, lack of effective liver support systems, and shortage of liver donors are also factors that contribute to increase their mortality. ICU therapy parallels that applied in the general ICU population in some complications but has differential characteristics in others. This review describes the current knowledge on critical care management of patients with ACLF including organ support, prognostic assessment, early liver transplantation, and futility rules. Certainties and knowledge gaps in this area are also discussed.

A Machine-Learning Approach to Target Clinical and Biological Features Associated with Sarcopenia: Findings from Northern and Southern Italian Aging Populations

Epidemiological and public health resonance of sarcopenia in late life requires further research to identify better clinical markers useful for seeking proper care strategies in preventive medicine settings. Using a machine-learning approach, a search for clinical and fluid markers most associated with sarcopenia was carried out across older populations from northern and southern Italy. A dataset of adults >65 years of age (n = 1971) made up of clinical records and fluid markers from either a clinical-based subset from northern Italy (Pavia) and a population-based subset from southern Italy (Apulia) was employed (n = 1312 and n = 659, respectively). Body composition data obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia, given by the presence of either low muscle mass (i.e., an SMI < 7.0 kg/m² for males or <5.5 kg/m² for females) and of low muscle strength (i.e., an HGS < 27 kg for males or <16 kg for females) or low physical performance (i.e., an SPPB ≤ 8), according to the EWGSOP2 panel guidelines. A machine-learning feature-selection approach, the random forest (RF), was used to identify the most predictive features of sarcopenia in the whole dataset, considering every possible interaction among variables and taking into account nonlinear relationships that classical models could not evaluate. Then, a logistic regression was performed for comparative purposes. Leading variables of association to sarcopenia overlapped in the two population subsets and included SMI, HGS, FFM of legs and arms, and sex. Using parametric and nonparametric whole-sample analysis to investigate the clinical variables and biological markers most associated with sarcopenia, we found that albumin, CRP, folate, and age ranked high according to RF selection, while sex, folate, and vitamin D were the most relevant according to logistics. Albumin, CRP, vitamin D, and serum folate should not be neglected in screening for sarcopenia in the aging population. Better preventive medicine settings in geriatrics are urgently needed to lessen the impact of sarcopenia on the general health, quality of life, and medical care delivery of the aging population.

Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Prediction in People Living With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

People living with HIV (PWH) experience an accelerated aging process. There is no anthropometric predictive model for appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) in PWH. This study develops anthropometric models to predict and validate ASM measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in PWH; DXA scans were obtained for 125 PWH (male = 74; age >18 years) on antiretroviral therapy. Fat mass ratio was used for lipodystrophy diagnosis. A multiple stepwise linear regression considered ASMDXA as the dependent variable and validated by PRESS method. A high power of determination and low standard estimate error were found for ASMDXA-predicted (adjusted r2 = 0.84 to 0.87, standard estimate error = 1.7-1.6 kg) and high PRESS validation coefficients (Q2PRESS = 0.84-0.86, SPRESS = 1.7-1.6 kg). The variables included were lipodystrophy diagnosis, medial calf circumference, sex, and total body weight. We present novel, reliable, and validated anthropometric models to predict ASMDXA in PWH.

Mapping peripheral and abdominal sarcopenia acquired in the acute phase of COVID-19 during 7 days of mechanical ventilation

Our aim was to map acquired peripheral and abdominal sarcopenia in mechanically ventilated adults with COVID-19 through ultrasound measurements. On Days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after admission to critical care, the muscle thickness and cross-sectional area of the quadriceps, rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, tibialis anterior, medial and lateral gastrocnemius, deltoid, biceps brachii, rectus abdominis, internal and external oblique, and transversus abdominis were measured using bedside ultrasound. A total of 5460 ultrasound images were analyzed from 30 patients (age: 59.8 ± 15.6 years; 70% men). Muscle thickness loss was found in the bilateral anterior tibial and medial gastrocnemius muscles (range 11.5-14.6%) between Days 1 and 3; in the bilateral quadriceps, rectus femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, deltoid, and biceps brachii (range 16.3-39.1%) between Days 1 and 5; in the internal oblique abdominal (25.9%) between Days 1 and 5; and in the rectus and transversus abdominis (29%) between Days 1 and 7. The cross-sectional area was reduced in the bilateral tibialis anterior and left biceps brachii (range 24.6-25.6%) between Days 1 and 5 and in the bilateral rectus femoris and right biceps brachii (range 22.9-27.7%) between Days 1 and 7. These findings indicate that the peripheral and abdominal muscle loss is progressive during the first week of mechanical ventilation and is significantly higher in the lower limbs, left quadriceps and right rectus femoris muscles in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Effect of low skeletal muscle mass on long-term mortality after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: A meta-analysis

Objective

This meta-analysis was designed to assess if pre-operative low skeletal muscle mass impacts mortality rates of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair.

Methods

Datasets of PubMed, CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched from 1st January 1980 to 15th December 2021 for studies assessing the role of low skeletal muscle mass on mortality rates of AAA repair. Studies measuring skeletal muscle mass on computed tomography scans and reporting long-term mortality (>1 year) were included. Multivariable adjusted ratios were combined in a random-effects model.

Results

Fifteen studies with 3776 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed a statistically significant increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with low skeletal muscle mass (HR: 2.07 95% CI: 1.56, 2.74 I2=65% p<0.00001) as compared to normal muscle mass patients. Pooled data indicated that low skeletal muscle mass was associated with statistically significant increased risk of mortality in studies on endovascular repair (HR: 2.86 95% CI: 1.95, 4.20 I2=58% p<0.00001) as well as those including a mixed group of patients (HR: 1.39 95% CI: 1.06, 1.82 I2=31% p=0.02).

Conclusion

Low skeletal muscle mass in AAA patients undergoing surgical repair is associated with increased risk of long-term mortality. Current evidence is limited by the retrospective nature of data and variability in defining and measuring low skeletal muscle mass. There is a need for future prospective studies defining the optimal cut-off of low skeletal muscle mass in different populations.

Association of CT-based diagnosis of sarcopenia with prognosis and treatment response in patients at risk of malnutrition - A secondary analysis of the Effect of early nutritional support on Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of malnourished medical inpatients Trial (EFFORT) trial

BACKGROUND & AIM

CT-derived measures of muscle mass may help to identify patients with sarcopenia. We investigated the prognostic significance of CT-derived sarcopenia and muscle attenuation with nutritional markers, clinical outcomes and response to nutritional support in medical in-patients at nutritional risk.

METHOD

Within this secondary analysis of the randomized-controlled Effect of early nutritional support on Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of malnourished medical inpatients Trial (EFFORT) comparing individualized nutritional support with usual care nutrition in medical inpatients, we investigated associations of CT-based sarcopenia and muscle attenuation at the level L3 with different nutritional and clinical outcomes, and the response to the nutritional intervention. The primary composite endpoint was adverse clinical outcome within 30 days of hospital admission.

RESULTS

We included 573 of 2028 EFFORT patients with available CT scans, of which 68.4% met the CT-based definition of sarcopenia and 72.9% had low muscle attenuation. In multivariate analysis, low skeletal muscle index was associated with higher nutritional risk (coefficient per NRS class -0.94 (95%CI -1.87 to -0.01) p = 0.049) and higher risk for adverse clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 1.59 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.38), p = 0.024). Low muscle attenuation was also associated with adverse clinical outcome (adjusted odds ratio 1.67 (95%CI 1.08 to 2.58), p = 0.02). Nutritional support tended to be more effective in reducing mortality in non-sarcopenic patients compared to patients with CT-based sarcopenia (p for interaction 0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

Within a population of medical patients at nutritional risk, CT-based sarcopenia and muscle attenuation were associated with several nutritional parameters and predicted adverse clinical outcomes. Information from CT scans, thus may help to better characterize these patients, and may be helpful in guiding therapeutic interventions.

Effectiveness of physical rehabilitation interventions in critically ill patients-A protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

INTRODUCTION

Adult and pediatric patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) requiring invasive ventilatory support, sedation, and muscle blockade may present neuromusculoskeletal deterioration. Different physical rehabilitation interventions have been studied to evaluate their effectiveness in improving critically ill patients' outcomes. Given that many published systematic reviews (SRs) aims to determine the effectiveness of different types of physical rehabilitation interventions, it is necessary to group them systematically and assess the methodological quality of SRs to help clinicians make better evidence-based decisions. This overview of SRs (OoSRs) aims to map the existing evidence and to determine the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation interventions to improve neuromusculoskeletal function and other clinical outcomes in adult and pediatric critically ill patients.

METHODS

An OoSRs of randomized and non-randomized clinical trials involving critically ill adult and pediatric patients receiving physical rehabilitation intervention will be conducted. A sensitive search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and other search resources will be conducted. Two independent reviewers will conduct study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. The degree of overlap of studies will be calculated using the corrected covered area. The methodological quality of the SRs will be measured using the AMSTAR-2 tool. The GRADE framework will report the certainty of evidence by selecting the "best" SR for each physical rehabilitation intervention and outcome.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this overview are expected to determine the effectiveness and safety of physical rehabilitation interventions to improve neuromusculoskeletal function in adult and pediatric critically ill patients based on a wide selection of the best available evidence and to determine the knowledge gaps in this topic by mapping and assessing the methodological quality of published SRs.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023389672.

Low muscle mass in COVID-19 critically-ill patients: Prognostic significance and surrogate markers for assessment

INTRODUCTION

Low muscle mass is a common condition in the critically ill population and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of low muscle mass using computed tomography (CT) scans in COVID-19 critically ill patients. A second objective was to determine the accuracy and agreement in low muscle mass identification using diverse markers compared to CT as the gold standard.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 critically ill patients. Skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra was measured. Clinical outcomes (intensive care unit [ICU] and hospital length of stay [LOS], tracheostomy, days on mechanical ventilation [MV], and in-hospital mortality) were assessed. Phase angle, estimated fat-free mass index, calf circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference were measured as surrogate markers of muscle mass.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients were included (mean age ± SD: 48.6 ± 12.9; 74% males). Patients with low muscle mass (48%) had a higher rate of tracheostomy (50 vs 20%, p = 0.01), prolonged ICU (adjusted HR 0.53, 95%CI 0.30-0.92, p = 0.024) and hospital LOS (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29-0.86, p = 0.014). Bedside markers of muscle mass showed poor to fair agreement and accuracy compared to CT-assessed low muscle mass.

CONCLUSION

Low muscle mass at admission was associated with prolonged length of ICU and hospital stays. Further studies are needed to establish targeted nutritional interventions to halt and correct the catabolic impact of COVID-19 in critically ill patients, based on standardized and reliable measurements of body composition.

The current use of ultrasound to measure skeletal muscle and its ability to predict clinical outcomes: a systematic review

Quantification and monitoring of lean body mass is an important component of nutrition assessment to determine nutrition status and muscle loss. The negative impact of reduced muscle mass and muscle function is increasingly evident across acute and chronic disease states but is particularly pronounced in patients with cancer. Ultrasound is emerging as a promising tool to directly measure skeletal muscle mass and quality. Unlike other ionizing imaging techniques, ultrasound can be used repeatedly at the bedside and may compliment nutritional risk assessment. This review aims to describe the current use of skeletal muscle ultrasound (SMUS) to measure muscle mass and quality in patients with acute and chronic clinical conditions and its ability to predict functional capacity, severity of malnutrition, hospital admission, and survival. Databases were searched from their inception to August 2021 for full-text articles in English. Relevant articles were included if SMUS was investigated in acute or chronic clinical contexts and correlated with a defined clinical outcome measure. Data were synthesized for narrative review due to heterogeneity between studies. This review analysed 37 studies (3100 patients), which met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (n = 22) were conducted in critical care. The clinical outcomes investigated included functional status at discharge (intensive care unit-acquired weakness), nutritional status, and length of stay. SMUS was also utilized in chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic renal failure to predict hospital readmission and disease severity. Only two studies investigated the use of SMUS in patients with cancer. Of the 37 studies, 28 (76%) found that SMUS (cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, and echointensity) showed significant associations with functional capacity, length of stay, readmission, and survival. There was significant heterogeneity in terms of ultrasound technique and outcome measurement across the included studies. This review highlights that SMUS continues to gain momentum as a potential tool for skeletal muscle assessment and predicting clinically important outcomes. Further work is required to standardize the technique in nutritionally vulnerable patients, such as those with cancer, before SMUS can be widely adopted as a bedside prognostic tool.

Nutrition support for critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Italian SIAARTI survey

BACKGROUND

Critically ill, COVID-19 patients are characterized by a hypermetabolic state and a reduced food intake and are at high risk of malnutrition and lean body mass loss. An appropriate metabolic-nutritional intervention aims to reduce complications and improve the clinical outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter, observational, nationwide online survey involving Italian Intensivists to assess the nutritional practices in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

RESULTS

A group of experts in nutrition of the Italian Society of Anaesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) developed a 24-item questionnaire; the 9000 members of the Society were invited to participate through emails and social networks. Data was collected from June 1 to August 1, 2021. A total of 545 responses were collected: 56% in northern, 25% in central, and 20% in southern Italy. Artificial nutrition support is directly handled by intensivists in > 90 of the cases; the nutritional status is assessed as suggested by the guidelines in more than 70% of the cases, and a form of nutrition support is started within the first 48 h from ICU admission by > 90% of the respondents. Nutritional targets are reached in 4-7 days in > 75% of the cases, mainly by the enteral route. Indirect calorimetry, muscle ultrasound, and bioimpedance analysis are used by a limited part of the interviewees. Only about a half of the respondents reported the nutritional issues in the ICU discharge summary.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey among Italian Intensivists during the COVID-19 epidemic showed how the beginning, progression, and route of nutritional support adhere to international recommendations, while recommendations on the tools to set the target and monitor the efficacy of the metabolic support are less followed.