Trends of loss of peripheral muscle thickness on ultrasonography and its relationship with outcomes among patients with sepsis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Data regarding trends of muscle loss on ultrasonography (USG) and its relationship with various outcomes among critically ill patients is limited. This study aimed to describe the trends of loss of muscle thickness of the arm and thigh (assessed using USG) and to determine the relationship between loss of muscle thickness and in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes.

METHODS

Muscle thickness of 70 patients with sepsis was measured at the level of the mid-arm and mid-thigh using bedside USG on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 and then weekly till discharge or death. Patients were followed up for 90 days after discharge.

RESULTS

The muscle thickness (mean ± SD) at the level of the mid-arm and mid-thigh on day 1 was 23.13 ± 4.83 mm and 31.21 ± 8.56 mm, respectively. The percentage muscle thickness [median (min, max)] decline at the mid-arm and mid-thigh was 7.61 (- 1.51, 32.05)% and 10.62 (- 1.48, 32.06)%, respectively on day 7 as compared to baseline ( < 0.001). The decline in muscle thickness at the mid-arm and mid-thigh were higher among non-survivors compared to survivors at all time points. Also, the decline in muscle thickness was significantly higher among patients with worse outcome at day 90. Patients with ICU-acquired weakness also had significantly higher decline in muscle thickness ( < 0.05). Early decline (from day 1 to day 3) in muscle thickness was associated with in-hospital mortality. The probability of death by day 14 was higher for patients who had early decline (from day 1 to day 3) in muscle thickness of ≥ 6.59% and ≥ 5.20% at the mid-arm [HR 7.3 (95% CI 1.5, 34.2)] and the mid-thigh [HR 8.1 (95% CI 1.7, 37.9)], respectively. Decline in thickness from day 1 to day 3 was a good predictor of in-hospital mortality with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 and 0.86 for arm and thigh muscles, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill patients with sepsis exhibit a gradual decline in muscle thickness of both the arm and thigh. Decline in muscle thickness was associated with in-hospital mortality. USG has a potential to identify patients at risk of worse in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes.