Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: To compare muscle thickness and subcutaneous fat in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and healthy controls using ultrasonography (US), and to correlate US findings with nutritional, clinical and functional variables.Methods: Patients aged 6 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of CF and healthy controls were included. Participants underwent anthropometric measurements, an ultrasonographic evaluation of muscle thickness and subcutaneous fat in the triceps, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius regions, and skinfold thickness measurements. Body fat percentage was estimated using skinfold measurement. Subjects with CF also underwent a pulmonary function assessment using spirometry.Results: We studied 39 CF patients and 45 controls. Alower body mass index was observed in CF patients (p=0.011). Body composition and muscle thickness were similar between the groups. Only calf (p=0.023) circumference and femur diameter (p<0.001) were lower in CF patients. Although there were no significant between-group differences in the comparison of US measurements of subcutaneous fat, CF patients exhibited decreased skinfold thickness in the triceps (p=0.031) and quadriceps (p=0.019). Moreover, there were weak and moderate correlations of US quadricep thickness with forced vital capacity (FVC) and lean mass, respectively. Moderate correlations of the triceps, quadriceps and gastrocnemius between US subcutaneous fat and skinfold measurements were found.Conclusions: Patients with CF presented a reduction in subcutaneous fat content. Muscle thickness correlated with FVC and nutritional parameters. In addition, US findings correlated positively with skinfold measurements.
Highlights
Nutritional and respiratory impairment, well‐known fea‐ tures of cystic fibrosis (CF), affect muscle strength, limiting exercise capacity and the ability to perform everyday activ‐ ities, which are closely related to the quality of life in CF.[1,2,3,4] Maintenance of adequate nutritional status plays an essen‐ tial role in supporting the integrity of the respiratory sys‐ tem in this patient population, and better nutrition is asso‐ ciated with improved pulmonary function outcomes and fewer Pseudomonas infections in children with CF.[5]
Patients with CF presented a reduction in subcutaneous fat content
Muscle thickness correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and nutritional parameters
Summary
Nutritional and respiratory impairment, well‐known fea‐ tures of cystic fibrosis (CF), affect muscle strength, limiting exercise capacity and the ability to perform everyday activ‐ ities, which are closely related to the quality of life in CF.[1,2,3,4] Maintenance of adequate nutritional status plays an essen‐ tial role in supporting the integrity of the respiratory sys‐ tem in this patient population, and better nutrition is asso‐ ciated with improved pulmonary function outcomes and fewer Pseudomonas infections in children with CF.[5] CF patients with a better nutritional status have a linear increase in growth and appear to have greater lung function benefits from weight gain interventions.[6] a quantitative muscle and body fat content assessment might provide important information on clinical status. Ultrasonography accuracy has not been evaluated for CF patients, the method has been shown to be sensitive and specific to detect abnormalities in patients with neuro‐ muscular diseases.[9]
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