Musculoskeletal ultrasound shows muscle mass changes during post-acute care hospitalization in older men: A prospective cohort study

Meza Valderrama, Delky; Marco Navarro, Ester; Muñoz Redondo, Elena; Morgado Pérez, Andrea; Tejero Sánchez, Marta; Curbelo Peña, Yulibeth; de Jaime Gil, Elisabet; Canchucaja, Lizzeth; Meza Concepción, Frank; Perkisas, Stany; Sánchez-Rodríguez, María Dolores

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215150

Musculoskeletal ultrasound shows muscle mass changes during post-acute care hospitalization in older men: A prospective cohort study

License

Citation

Meza-Valderrama D, Marco E, Muñoz-Redondo E, Morgado-Pérez A, Sánchez MT, Curbelo Peña Y, De Jaime E, Canchucaja L, Meza Concepción F, Perkisas S, Sánchez-Rodríguez D. Musculoskeletal ultrasound shows muscle mass changes during post-acute care hospitalization in older men: A prospective cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 17;19(22):15150. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215150

Abstract

This study aimed to prospectively assess changes in muscle thickness (MT) and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle in a cohort of older adults, using musculoskeletal ultrasound at admission and at a 2-week follow-up during hospitalization in a post-acute care unit. Differences in frailty status and correlations of MT-RF and CSA-RF with current sarcopenia diagnostic criteria were also studied. Forty adults aged 79.5 (SD 9.5) years (57.5% women) participated, including 14 with frailty and 26 with pre-frailty. In the first week follow-up, men had a significant increase in MT (0.9 mm [95%CI 0.3 to 1.4], p = 0.003) and CSA (0.4 cm2 [95%CI 0.1 to 0.6], p = 0.007). During the second week, men continued to have a significant increase in MT (0.7 mm [95%CI 0.0 to 1.4], p = 0.036) and CSA (0.6 cm2 [95%CI 0.01 to 1.2], p = 0.048). Patients with frailty had lower values of MT-RF and CSA-RF at admission and during the hospitalization period. A moderate-to-good correlation of MT-RF and CSA with handgrip strength, fat-free mass and gait speed was observed. Musculoskeletal ultrasound was able to detect MT-RF and CSA-RF changes in older adults admitted to a post-acute care unit.