Muscle wasting associated co-morbidities, rather than sarcopenia are risk factors for hospital mortality in critical illness

Abstract

Background: Low skeletal muscle mass on intensive care unit admission is related to increased mortality. It is however unknown whether this association is influenced by co-morbidities that are associated with skeletal muscle loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for hospital mortality in critical illness in the presence of co-morbidities associated with muscle wasting.

Methods: Data of 155 patients with abdominal sepsis were retrospectively analyzed. Skeletal muscle area was assessed using CT-scans at the level of vertebra L3. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from electronic patient files. Sarcopenia was defined as a muscle area index below the 5th percentile of the general population. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association between sarcopenia and hospital mortality, correcting for age and comorbidities.

Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in patients that did not survive until hospital discharge. However, it appeared that this relation was confounded by the presence of chronic renal insufficiency and cancer. These were independent risk factors for hospital mortality, whereas sarcopenia was not.

Conclusion: In critically ill patients with abdominal sepsis, muscle wasting associated co-morbidities rather than sarcopenia were risk factors for hospital mortality.

Keywords: Body composition; Comorbidities; Critically ill; Low muscle mass; Mortality; Sarcopenia.