Sarcopenia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a key predictor of respiratory dysfunction and disease progression - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #sarcopenia
- #ALS
- #respiratory dysfunction
- Sarcopenia was identified in 25% of ALS patients in the study.
- Sarcopenic ALS patients showed lower muscle mass indices, phase angle (PA), and handgrip strength (HGS), along with higher extracellular water percentage (%ECW).
- Malnutrition was significantly more frequent in sarcopenic patients (90% vs. 25%).
- Respiratory impairment was more pronounced in sarcopenic patients, with reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) and higher pCO₂ levels.
- Sarcopenic patients had a greater need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) (70% vs. 10%).
- Positive correlations were found between vital capacity (VC) and body cell mass index (BCMI), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and ALSFRS-R score.
- Lower PA, BCMI, and ALSFRS-R scores, along with higher %ECW and pCO₂, predicted sarcopenia risk.
- Reduced BCMI, HGS, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores were associated with the need for NIMV.
- BCMI (cut-off: 8.05 kg/m²) and ALSFRS-R (cut-off: 33 points) were the most accurate predictors of sarcopenia and ventilatory support, respectively.
- The study highlights the relationship between sarcopenia, malnutrition, and respiratory decline in ALS patients.