Andreas Michael Bucher, Julius Behrend, Constantin Ehrengut, Lukas Müller, Tilman Emrich, Dominik Schramm, Alena Akinina, Roman Kloeckner, Malte Sieren, Lennart Berkel, Christiane Kuhl, Marwin-Jonathan Sähn, Matthias A. Fink, Dorottya Móré, Bohdan Melekh, Hakan Kardas, Felix G. Meinel, Hanna Schön, Norman Kornemann, Diane Miriam Renz, Nora Lubina, Claudia Wollny, Marcus Both, Joe Watkinson, Sophia Stöcklein, Andreas Mittermeier, Gizem Abaci, Matthias May, Lisa Siegler, Tobias Penzkofer, Maximilian Lindholz, Miriam Balzer, Moon-Sung Kim, Christian Römer, Niklas Wrede, Sophie Götz, Julia Breckow, Jan Borggrefe, Hans Jonas Meyer, Alexey Surov
- Rationale and Objectives
The prognostic role of computed tomography (CT)-defined skeletal muscle features in COVID-19 is still under investigation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of CT-defined skeletal muscle area and density in patients with COVID-19 in a multicenter setting.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study is a part of the German multicenter project RACOON (Radiological Cooperative Network of the COVID-19 pandemic). The acquired sample included 1379 patients, 389 (28.2%) women and 990 (71.8%) men. In each case, chest CT was analyzed and pectoralis muscle area and density were calculated. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Group differences were calculated using the Mann–Whitney-U test and Fisher’s exact test. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results
The 30-day mortality was 17.9%. Using median values as thresholds, low pectoralis muscle density (LPMD) was a strong andRationale and Objectives
The prognostic role of computed tomography (CT)-defined skeletal muscle features in COVID-19 is still under investigation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of CT-defined skeletal muscle area and density in patients with COVID-19 in a multicenter setting.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study is a part of the German multicenter project RACOON (Radiological Cooperative Network of the COVID-19 pandemic). The acquired sample included 1379 patients, 389 (28.2%) women and 990 (71.8%) men. In each case, chest CT was analyzed and pectoralis muscle area and density were calculated. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Group differences were calculated using the Mann–Whitney-U test and Fisher’s exact test. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results
The 30-day mortality was 17.9%. Using median values as thresholds, low pectoralis muscle density (LPMD) was a strong and independent predictor of 30-day mortality, HR = 2.97, 95%-CI: 1.52–5.80, p = 0.001. Also in male patients, LPMD predicted independently 30-day mortality, HR = 2.96, 95%-CI: 1.42–6.18, p = 0.004. In female patients, the analyzed pectoralis muscle parameters did not predict 30-day mortality.
For patients under 60 years of age, LPMD was strongly associated with 30-day mortality, HR = 2.72, 95%-CI: 1.17;6.30, p = 0.019. For patients over 60 years of age, pectoralis muscle parameters could not predict 30-day mortality.
Conclusion
In male patients with COVID-19, low pectoralis muscle density is strongly associated with 30-day mortality and can be used for risk stratification. In female patients with COVID-19, pectoralis muscle parameters cannot predict 30-day mortality.…
