Low Psoas Muscle Index Research Articles

Psoas Muscle Index and Density as Prognostic Predictors in Patients Hospitalized with Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Early prognostication of acute pancreatitis (AP) patients for those at high risk of complications during hospitalization can facilitate clinical decision-making. Sarcopenia has been proven to be a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with AP. We aimed to evaluate the association between the muscle parameters measured in computed tomography (CT) and the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with AP. Methods: A total of 132 consecutive patients hospitalized between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2021 for AP with a valid CT scan were analyzed. The first CT conducted during hospitalization was analyzed for psoas muscle area (PMA), index (PMI), and density (PMD) at the L3 vertebral level. The main adverse outcomes indicating a worse prognosis were the development of extrapancreatic complications, infections, ICU transfer, in-hospital mortality, and hospitalization length. Results: The lowest tertile of PMI, as a surrogate for sarcopenia, was significantly correlated with increased rates of extrapancreatic complications, infections, and longer hospitalizations. It was additionally correlated with a worse CT severity index. The results for PMA and PMD also showed worse outcomes, largely mirroring the results for PMI. Although in-hospital mortality was relatively low, none of the patients died in the highest tertile of PMI. A clear cutoff with sufficient predictive capability could not be found. Conclusions: A low psoas muscle index can serve as an additional potential predictive marker for more severe disease and worse outcomes in hospitalized acute pancreatitis patients. More studies are needed to determine its combination with existing prediction tools.

Prognostic Significance of Psoas Muscle Index in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparative Analysis of Lenvatinib and Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.

Background and Aims: Skeletal muscle loss has been identified as a prognostic factor in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) undergoing treatment with lenvatinib (LEN). While atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ-BEV) is recommended as first-line therapy for uHCC, the impact of skeletal muscle loss in these patients remains unclear. Methods: We enrolled 97 patients treated with either LEN or ATZ-BEV as their first-line therapy and divided them into two groups based on the presence or absence of a low psoas muscle index (low PMI) before treatment. We compared patient characteristics and overall survival (OS) between the groups. Additionally, we investigated the transition of the PMI during drug therapy, specifically before treatment, at the initial evaluation, and after the end of treatment. Results: Seventy percent of patients in the LEN group and seventy-one percent in the ATZ-BEV group had a low PMI. Multivariate analysis across all patients revealed a low PMI (hazard ratio [HR] 3.25, p = 0.0004) as a prognostic factor for OS. The PMI decreased more in the LEN group compared to the ATZ-BEV group. In the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-C group, the OS of ATZ-BEV therapy was significantly better than that of LEN therapy when a low PMI was present (p = 0.046). Conclusions: A low PMI emerges as a significant prognostic factor in uHCC patients undergoing drug therapy, not only in LEN therapy but also in ATZ-BEV therapy. Additionally, ATZ-BEV therapy may be more favorable for sarcopenic patients with advanced HCC stages.

Low psoas muscle index has a negative impact on survival after minimal invasive esophagectomy for cancer in European men

IntroductionSarcopenia, a key component of frailty in cancer patients, is associated with complicated procedures and worse survival after esophageal resection. The psoas muscle index (PMI) has been implicated as a possible sarcopenia imaging marker. This retrospective study aims to elucidate the effect of PMI and BMI in a cohort in Europe after totally minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer. MethodsThe study included 318 consecutive adult patients (261 men and 57 women) who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer between January 2016 and April 2021 in a German University Hospital. The PMI was measured at the third lumbar vertebra in the preoperative CT scan. The endpoints postoperative complication rates and survival rates were analysed and correlated with PMI and BMI according to gender. ResultsMale patients with low PMI (< 5.3 cm2/ m2) had a significantly higher rate of postoperative pulmonary and cardiac complications (p = 0.016, respectively p = 0.018). Low PMI and low BMI (<25 kg/m2) were associated with decreased survival rates in the univariate (p < 0.001) and multivariate analysis in male patients (p = 0.024, respectively 0.004). Having a low PMI (< 5.3 cm2/ m2) was significantly associated with worse overall survival in normal and underweight men (p < 0.001), but not in obese men with a BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 (p = 0.476). ConclusionPreoperative PMI and BMI are valid risk factors regarding postoperative survival after minimal invasive esophagectomy for cancer especially in a male European cohort.

Impact of baseline body composition on prognostic outcomes in urological malignancies treated with immunotherapy: a pooled analysis of 10 retrospective studies

ObjectiveNumerous epidemiological investigations have explored the impact of body composition on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in urological malignancies (UM) patients, yielding conflicting findings. As a result, our study aims to elucidate the influence of baseline body composition on the long-term prognosis of UM patients treated with ICIs.MethodsWe employed a rigorous systematic search across various databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, to identify studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Our primary endpoints of interest encompassed overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsThis analysis included a total of 10 articles with a combined patient cohort of 707 individuals. Our findings revealed a noteworthy association between several body composition parameters and unfavorable OS outcomes, including low psoas muscle index (PMI; HR: 3.88, p < 0.001), low skeletal muscle index (SMI; HR: 1.63, p < 0.001), sarcopenia (HR: 1.88, p < 0.001), low visceral adipose index (VAI; HR: 1.38, p = 0.018) and low subcutaneous adipose index (SAI; HR: 1.37, p = 0.018). Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated that low PMI (HR: 2.05, p = 0.006), low SMI (HR: 1.89, p = 0.002), sarcopenia (HR: 1.80, p < 0.001), and low VAI (HR:1.59, p = 0.005) were significantly correlated with inferior PFS. Conversely, SAI did not manifest a pronounced association with PFS in UM patients treated with ICIs.ConclusionCollectively, our study findings underscore a substantial relationship between baseline body composition and reduced clinical efficacy in UM patients undergoing ICI therapy.

Assessment of Psoas Muscle Index in Middle-Aged Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Impact of Insulin Therapy on Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive skeletal muscle loss, poses significant health risks, including physical impairment and mortality. The relationship between sarcopenia and insulin resistance suggests insulin therapy's potential in preserving muscle mass, particularly in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study aims to evaluate the Psoas Muscle Index (PMI) via computed tomography (CT) in middle-aged T2DM patients on insulin therapy versus oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) and controls. This retrospective study included 107 middle-aged T2DM patients undergoing non-contrast CT scans and 58 age-matched controls. CT images were analyzed to calculate PMI. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and correlation analyses. Insulin-treated patients exhibited higher PMI than OAD users (p < 0.001), while OAD users had lower PMI than controls (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between insulin-treated patients and controls (p = 0.616). Negative correlations were observed between T2DM duration/age and PMI across all groups, with a positive correlation between T2DM duration and BMI observed in the OAD group. Insulin therapy in T2DM patients, regardless of age or disease duration, positively impacts muscle mass, highlighting its potential in preserving muscular health and advocating for tailored treatment strategies in T2DM management.

Do low skeletal muscle bulk and disturbed body fat mass impact tumor recurrence in stage I/II HCC undergoing surgery? An observational cohort study.

The influence of deranged body composition on stage I/II HCC after surgery remains undetermined. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of low skeletal muscle bulk and disturbed body fat mass on the recurrence outcome of stage I/II HCC patients undergoing liver resection. The associated metabolomic alterations were also assessed. From 2012 to 2021, stage I and II HCC patients who underwent liver resection at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. Their preoperative body composition including skeletal muscle mass and body fat volume was measured by computed tomography (CT). The recurrence outcome was recorded and analyzed. The preoperative serum was collected and subjected to metabolomic analysis. A total of 450 stage I and II HCC patients were included in the current study. Among them, 76% were male and around 60% had HBV infection. After stratified by normal cutoff values obtained from a healthy cohort, 6.4% of stage I/II HCC patients were found to have a low psoas muscle index (PMI), 17.8% a high subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) index, and 27.8% a high visceral adipose tissue (VAT) index. Cox regression multivariate analysis further demonstrated that low PMI and high SAT index were independent prognostic factors for time-to-recurrence (TTR) after surgery. Metabolomic analysis discovered that free fatty acid β-oxidation was enhanced in with low PMI or high SAT index. The current study demonstrated that reduced psoas muscle mass may impair while elevated SAT may prolong the TTR of stage I/II HCC patients undergoing liver resections. VAT, on the other hand, was not associated with recurrence outcome after surgery. Further studies are warranted to validate our findings.

Comparison of different 2D muscle indexes measured at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra in survival prediction in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Low computed tomography (CT)-determined muscle mass, commonly determined with height-adjusted muscle indexes (MIs), predicts worse survival in several cancers and has been suggested as a prognostic assessment tool. Although several MIs measured at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) are commonly used, it remains unestablished how different L3-determined MIs perform in survival prognostication compared to each other. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of different MIs for survival prognostication in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We retrospectively enrolled 214 consecutive patients with RCC. We determined three L3-MIs (psoas muscle index (PMI), psoas muscle index and erector spinae index (PMI+ESI), and whole skeletal muscle index (SMI)) from preoperative CT scans. Categorization of those with low and normal muscle mass was based on the Youden Index sex-specific MI cut-offs. We determined sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy metrics for predicting 1-year, 5-year, and overall survival (OS) using Cox regression models. Low PMI, PMI+ESI, and SMI significantly predicted decreased 1-year, 5-year, and OS in uni- and multivariate models. PMI+ESI and SMI were more accurate than PMI in males, and PMI and PMI+ESI were more accurate than SMI in females in the prediction of 1-year survival. However, there were no differences in accuracies between MIs in 5-year and OS prediction. PMI+ESI performed well overall in short-term prognostication, but there were no differences between the MIs in long-term prognostication. We recommend the use of PMI+ESI for muscle evaluation, particularly when SMI cannot be evaluated.

Circulating myostatin levels as a prognostic biomarker in patients with acute liver failure and late-onset hepatic failure.

Myostatin is a myokine involved in muscle mass regulation. The associations between circulating myostatin levels and clinical characteristics in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and late-onset hepatic failure (LOHF) are unclear. In this retrospective study, 51 patients with ALF or LOHF were included. Serum myostatin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myostatin levels were significantly lower in patients with ALF and LOHF than in controls (ALF/LOHF: 2522pg/mL, controls: 3853pg/mL, p=0.003). The prevalence of low myostatin in deceased patients was significantly higher than that in spontaneous survivors and patients who underwent liver transplantation. Patients with low myostatin levels had a high incidence of complications. There was a positive correlation between the psoas muscle index and serum myostatin levels. Patients with low myostatin levels had shorter 1-year transplant-free survival and shorter 1-year overall survival than patients with high myostatin levels. Low serum myostatin levels were associated with poor prognosis independent of the Japanese scoring system for ALF ≥3, King's College criteria, or model for end-stage liver disease score >30.5. The combination of serum myostatin levels and prognostic models for ALF significantly stratified patients according to 1-year prognosis. Low serum myostatin levels were associated with a low psoas muscle index, complication rate, and poor prognosis in patients with ALF and LOHF. Assessment of circulating myostatin levels may improve the prediction of outcomes in patients with ALF and LOHF.

The clinical significance of sarcopenia in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors.

Sarcopenia has gained considerable attention in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma, as it has been correlated with a poorer prognosis among patients undergoing sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The clinical significance of sarcopenia in first-line advanced HCC patients treated with lenvatinib and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors needs to be clarified. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using CT (Computed tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), with the psoas muscle index (PMI) as the surrogate marker. Patients were grouped based on sarcopenia presences, and a comparative analysis examined characteristics, adverse events, and prognosis. The Cox regression analysis was applied to identify independent prognostic factors for survival, while nomograms were constructed to predict 1-year survival. Among 180 patients, 46 had sarcopenia. Patients with baseline sarcopenia demonstrated significantly inferior median progression-free survival (mPFS) (3.0 vs. 8.3 months) and median overall survival (mOS) (7.3 vs. 21.6 months). The same results for mPFS (3.3 vs. 9.2 months) and mOS (9.4 vs. 24.2 months) were observed in patients who developed sarcopenia after treatment. Furthermore, significantly higher grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) (73.91% vs 41.79%, p<0.001) were recorded in the sarcopenia group compared to the non-sarcopenia group. In the multivariate analysis, distant metastasis, elevated PLR and CRP levels, and low PMI remained independent predictive factors for poor OS. Additionally, skeletal muscle loss remained a significant independent risk factor for PFS. We developed a nomogram incorporating these four indicators, which predicted 12-month survival with a C-index of 0.853 (95% CI, 0.791 - 0.915), aligning well with actual observations. The prognosis of patients with HCC and sarcopenia is significantly worse when treated with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors. The combination regimen of lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors should be cautiously recommended due to the inferior prognosis and higher AEs.

Pre-operative psoas muscle index, a surrogate for sarcopenia; as a predictor of post-esophagectomy complications.

Esophagectomy is the standard of care for curative esophageal cancer. However, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Esophageal cancer is known to negatively affect the nutritional status of patients and many manifest cancer sarcopenia. At present, measures of sarcopenia involve complex and often subjective measurements. We assess whether the Psoas Muscle Index (PMI); an inexpensive, simple, validated method used to diagnose sarcopenia, can be used to predict adverse outcomes in patients after curative esophagectomy. Multi-centre, retrospective cohort between 2010-2020, involving all consecutive patients undergoing curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in University Malaya Medical Centre, Sungai Buloh Hospital, and Sultanah Aminah Hospital. The cut-off value differentiating low and normal PMI is defined as 443mm2/m2 in males and 326326mm2/m2 in females. Complications were recorded using the Clavien-Dindo Scale. There was no statistical correlation between PMI and major post-esophagectomy complications (p-value: 0.495). However, complication profile was different, and patients with low PMIs had higher 30-day mortality (21.7%) when compared with patients with normal PMI (8.1%) (p-value: 0.048). Although PMI did not significantly predict post-esophagectomy complications, low PMI correlates with higher 30-day mortality, reflecting a lower tolerance for complications among these patients. PMI is a useful, inexpensive tool to identify sarcopenia and aids the patient selection process. This alerts healthcare professionals to institute intensive physiotherapy and nutritional optimization prior to esophagectomy.

Effect of low visceral fat area on long-term survival of stage I–III colorectal cancer

ObjectiveThe prognostic significance of a low visceral fat area (VFA) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic effects of a low VFA on the long-term outcomes of patients with CRC after laparoscopic surgery. MethodsThis retrospective study included 306 patients with stages I–III CRC who underwent R0 resection. VFA was preoperatively measured via computed tomography using image processing software. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan–Meier curves. ResultsLow VFA was identified in 153 patients. The low VFA group had significantly lower RFS and OS rates than did the high VFA group (5-y RFS rates: 72 versus 89%, P = 0.0002; 5-y OS rates: 72 versus 92%, P = 0.0001). The independent significant predictors of RFS were T3 or T4 disease (hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–6.76; P = 0.027), stage III CRC (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.82–6.69; P < 0.001), low psoas muscle index (PMI; HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.19–3.79; P = 0.011), and low VFA (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.16–3.86; P = 0.014). The independent significant predictors of OS were age ≥65 y (HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.13–5.92, P = 0.024), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels ≥37 ng/mL (HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.18–4.58; P = 0.015), stage III CRC (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.37–5.17; P = 0.004), low PMI (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.06–3.77; P = 0.031), and low VFA (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.24–4.70; P = 0.009). ConclusionA low preoperative VFA was significantly associated with worse RFS and OS rates in patients who underwent CRC resection.

High ventilatory inefficiency with low psoas muscle index is associated with an increase in the risk of 3-year mortality after liver resection and pancreaticoduodenectomy

High ventilatory inefficiency with low psoas muscle index is associated with an increase in the risk of 3-year mortality after liver resection and pancreaticoduodenectomy

Prognostic significance of psoas muscle index in male hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors

ABSTRACT Currently, the relationship between nutritional indices and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of psoas muscle index (PMI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), body mass index (BMI), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) in HCC patients treated with ICIs combined with TKIs. A total of 124 male patients with HCC were included in this study. PNI, PMI, BMI, and GNRI were calculated at the beginning of treatment. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the effect of various variables. In the univariate analysis, PMI, PNI, GNRI, and ALB were found to impact the outcomes of the patients at different follow-up times. However, the predictive value of these nutritional indices was eliminated when established risk factors were considered. In the multivariate analysis that only included nutrition-related indicators, PMI emerged as an independent prognostic factor for 1-year treatment outcomes. The group with low PMI (≤5.5409 cm2/m2) was found to have a higher risk of death at one year and at the end of the follow-up period.

P60: The Psoas Muscle Index As A Predictor Of Long-Term Survival After Cardiac Surgery For Hemodialysis-Dependent Patients.

Study: Sarcopenia represented by skeletal muscle depletion has been identified as a useful prognostic tool for patients undergoing major surgeries. However, the impact of sarcopenia in HD-dependent patients undergoing cardiac surgery has not been investigated. We aimed to clarify the association between sarcopenia and outcomes of HD-dependent patients after cardiac surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 138 HD-dependent patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2006 and December 2017. Sarcopenia was assessed using the psoas muscle index (PMI), which was calculated using values measured on preoperative computed tomography images and the following formula: cross-sectional area of bilateral psoas muscle/height2. Patients were divided into two groups according to the PMI: the sarcopenia group (≤443 mm2/m2 for men and ≤326 mm2/ m2 for women; n=35) and the non-sarcopenia group (>443 mm2/m2 for men and >326 mm2/m2 for women; n=103). Preoperative characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared. Results: Overall in-hospital mortality did not differ between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. However, the patients with sarcopenia had significantly decreased long-term survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that low PMI was a significant independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% confidential interval, 1.19–3.17; p<0.01). Conclusion: Long-term survival rates in HD-dependent patients undergoing cardiac surgery are severely affected by the presence of preoperative sarcopenia defined by PMI.Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves of long-term survival in the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups.

Body Composition of Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Sarcopenia, Low Psoas Muscle Index, and Myosteatosis Are Independent Risk Factors for Mortality

We assessed a wide array of body composition parameters to identify those most relevant as prognostic tools for patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) due to bladder cancer (BC). In this retrospective, single-center study, preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans of 657 patients were measured at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) to determine common body composition indices including sarcopenia, myosteatosis, psoas muscle index (PMI), subcutaneous and visceral fat index (SFI and VFI), visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR), and visceral obesity. Predictors of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were identified in univariate and multivariate survival analysis. Sarcopenia and a low PMI were independently associated with shorter OS (Sarcopenia: HR 1.30; 95% CI 1.02-1.66; p = 0.04 and a low PMI: HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.02-1.70; p = 0.03) and CSS (Sarcopenia: HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.19-2.25; p < 0.01 and a low PMI: HR 1.41; 95% CI 1.02-1.96; p = 0.04). Myosteatosis, measured as decreasing average Hounsfield units of skeletal muscle, was an independent risk factor for OS (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-1.00; p = 0.01) and CSS (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-1.00; p < 0.05). The assessed adipose tissue indices were not significant predictors for OS and CSS. Sarcopenia, a low PMI, and myosteatosis are independent predictors for OS and CSS in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Combination of psoas muscle mass index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a noninvasive prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

The psoas muscle index (PMI) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been reported as useful noninvasive prognostic markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The usefulness of the combination of the PMI and NLR as a prognostic marker in HCC patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the PMI and NLR in 112 patients undergoing RFA, including 40 patients aged 75 years and older (36%). The influence of the PMI and NLR on disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. There were 66 patients with high PMI and low NLR values (58%), 36 patients with a low PMI or high NLR value (32%), and 10 patients with low PMI and high NLR values (9%). The combination of the PMI and NLR did not show a significant association with the disease-free survival rate. For patients aged ≥75 years, those with both low PMI and high NLR values showed significantly shorter OS periods (log-rank: P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the combination of a low PMI value and high NLR value was significantly associated with shorter survival periods (hazard ratio: 19.72; 95% confidence interval, 4.933-78.8; P < 0.001). In this study, the combination of PMI and NLR was associated with prognosis in patients with early HCC and preserved liver function. The combination of the PMI and NLR may be a useful and noninvasive prognostic marker in HCC patients aged 75 years and older, as well as in younger patients.

Combination of Muscle Quantity and Quality Is Useful to Assess the Necessity of Surveillance after a 5-Year Cancer-Free Period in Patients Who Undergo Radical Cystectomy: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study

Although continuous surveillance after a 5-year cancer-free period in patients with bladder cancer (BC) who undergo radical cystectomy (RC) is recommended, optimal candidates for continuous surveillance remain unclear. Sarcopenia is associated with unfavorable prognosis in various malignancies. We aimed to investigate the impact of low muscle quantity and quality (defined as severe sarcopenia) on prognosis after a 5-year cancer-free period in patients who underwent RC. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study assessing 166 patients who underwent RC and had five years or more of follow-up periods after a 5-year cancer-free period. Muscle quantity and quality were evaluated using the psoas muscle index (PMI) and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) using computed tomography images five years after RC. Patients with lower PMI and higher IMAC values than the cut-off values were diagnosed with severe sarcopenia. Univariable analyses were performed to assess the impact of severe sarcopenia on recurrence, adjusting for the competing risk of death using the Fine-Gray competing risk regression model. Moreover, the impact of severe sarcopenia on non-cancer-specific survival was evaluated using univariable and multivariable analyses. The median age and follow-up period after the 5-year cancer-free period were 73 years and 94 months, respectively. Of 166 patients, 32 were diagnosed with severe sarcopenia. The 10-year RFS rate was 94.4%. In the Fine-Gray competing risk regression model, severe sarcopenia did not show a significant higher probability of recurrence, with an adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio of 0.525 (p = 0.540), whereas severe sarcopenia was significantly associated with non-cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio 1.909, p = 0.047). These results indicate that patients with severe sarcopenia might not need continuous surveillance after a 5-year cancer-free period, considering the high non-cancer-specific mortality.

Body composition assessment in patients with gastric cancer.

460 Background: The number of overweight patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy has increased in Japan. In addition to obesity, sarcopenia is a risk factor of severe surgical complication. The study aimed to elucidate the relationship between body composition and surgical outcome of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: This study was a retrospective, cohort study that include 701 patients who underwent gastrectomy in our institution between May 2008 and July 2017. Using preoperative computed tomography (CT), body composition such as psoas muscle index (PMI) and visceral fat area (VFA) were measured in the third lumber section. The patients were divided into two groups according to PMI (cut-off value 5.2 cm2/m2 in male and 3.5 in female) or VFA (cut-off value 155 cm2 in male and 116 in female), respectively. Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between the low and high groups for each PMI and VFA value. Results: There were 53 severe complications (14 anastomotic leakage, 14 pancreatic fistula, 8 respiratory failure, and 7b intraabdominal abscess) in this cohort. Some 701 patients were included in the study, 528 of whom were classified as normal PMI and 173 were as low PMI. In addition, 528 of whom were classified as normal VFA and 173 were as low PMI. In multivariate analysis, age and gender were independent risk factor for severe postoperative complication, however, low PMI was not. Conclusions: Our analysis showed no relationship between preoperative low PMI and postoperative complications. [Table: see text]

Impact of muscle mass on the prognosis of liver transplantation for infants with biliary atresia.

Sarcopenia in adult cirrhotic patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality whereas in children it is still being studied. Anthropometric variables in cirrhotic children are not reliable for assessing muscle mass as they may be altered by ascites, edema, and organomegaly. Measuring the area of the psoas showed good correlation with muscle mass in adults. We aimed to study in cirrhotic infants undergoing liver transplantation the association of the psoas area with liver transplant prognosis as well as with several analytical and anthropometric parameters used to evaluate nutritional status. Retrospective cohort of 29 infants with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia who underwent abdominal CT scan as a pre-transplant study. We measured the psoas muscle index (PMI) at L4-L5 since it best correlates with muscle mass in pediatric patients. As there are no validated cut-off points to define sarcopenia in children under one year of age, PMI was recorded as a continuous variable and correlated with different prognostic, clinical, and analytical variables. The SPSS 17.0 package was used for statistical analysis and a P < 0.05 was considered significant. 29 infants (10 boys, 19 girls) were studied. 62% were Caucasian and the rest were South American. The mean age at CT scan was 8.5 months (range 3-15 months). There was a negative correlation between PMI and days of admission prior to liver transplant, previous infections, and bone fractures. Among the analytical parameters, cholinesterase, albumin, and prealbumin correlated positively with PMI (P < 0.05). No relationship was observed with anthropometric parameters: weight, height, BMI, brachial perimeter, or bioimpedance. During surgery, patients with lower PMI had a greater need for plasma transfusion, and in the immediate postoperative period, there was a longer stay in intensive care, more days of mechanical ventilation, and more days of hospital admission (P < 0.05). On the contrary, no relationship was found with other complications: bleeding, re-interventions, biliary leaks, rejection, thrombosis, re-transplantation, or infections. The decrease in muscle mass is associated with increased morbidity in infants with biliary atresia undergoing liver transplantation. Muscle mass in these patients cannot be adequately assessed with anthropometric measurements commonly used in the clinic.

Computed tomography-based preoperative muscle measurements as prognostic factors for anastomotic leakage following oncological sigmoid and rectal resections.

Oncological sigmoid and rectal resections are accompanied with substantial risk of anastomotic leakage. Preoperative risk assessment and patient selection remain difficult, highlighting the importance of finding easy-to-use parameters. This study evaluates the prognostic value of contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT)-based muscle measurements for predicting anastomotic leakage. Patients that underwent oncological sigmoid and rectal resections in the LUMC between 2016 and 2020 were included. Preoperative CE-CT scans, were analyzed using Vitrea software to measure total abdominal muscle area (TAMA) and total psoas area (TPA). Muscle areas were standardized using patient's height into: psoas muscle index (PMI) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) (cm2 /m2 ). In total 46 patients were included, of which 13 (8.9%) suffered from anastomotic leakage. Patients with anastomotic leakage had a significantly lower PMI (22.1 vs. 25.1, p < 0.01) and SMI (41.8 vs. 46.6, p < 0.01). After adjusting for confounders (age and comorbidity), lower PMI (odds ratio [OR]: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71-0.99, p = 0.03) and SMI (OR: 0.93, 95%CI 0.86-0.99, p = 0.02) were both associated with anastomotic leakage. This study showed that lower PMI and SMI were associated with anastomotic leakage. These results indicate that preoperative CT-based muscle measurements can be used as prognostic factor for risk stratification for anastomotic leakage.