Muscle ultrasonographic changes in critically ill COVID-19 patients

Authors

  • Johan Sebastian Torres-Mora Clínica Infantil Santa María del Lago
  • Yeny Cuellar-Fernández Fundación Universitaria Sanitas image/svg+xml
  • Jorge Medina-Parra Fundación Universitaria Sanitas image/svg+xml
  • Ricardo Alfonso Merchán-Chaverra Clinica Universitaria Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7962-403X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35454/rncm.v6n2.526

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, Ultrasonography, Malnutrition, Critical care

Abstract

Background: Patients with severe forms of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) present a systemic inflammatory response and hypermetabolism. The objective of this study was to identify the change in rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscle mass in patients with severe COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation, and to establish the correlation between the change in muscle size and the amount of calories and proteins administered. 

Materials & methods: This prospective observational longitudinal study was conducted in the adult intensive care unit in a tertiary care clinic. Muscle mass was measured with ultrasound from admission, at seven-day intervals, until discharge from the unit. Anthropometric and biochemical data as well as the amount of calories and proteins administered were taken into account. 

Results: A total of 39 patients were included (59.6 ± 11.3 years; 79.5% men) with a median BMI of 27.7 kg/m2 (IQR 24.2–29.7). The size of the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles had diminished significantly at seven days of hospitalization: right middle third 0.38 cm (IQR 0.16-0.47), left middle third 0. 29 cm (IQR 0.08-0.54) and right middle third 0.37 cm (IQR 0.11-0.71) left middle third 0.25 cm (IQR 0.09-0.52), respectively. The changes in both muscles were directly correlated with caloric and protein intake during nutritional support. 

Conclusions: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 were found to lose muscle mass progressively as a result of lower coverage of caloric and protein requirements. 

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Published

2023-05-24

How to Cite

Torres-Mora, J. S. ., Cuellar-Fernández , Y., Medina-Parra, J., & Merchán-Chaverra, R. A. (2023). Muscle ultrasonographic changes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Journal Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, 6(2), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.35454/rncm.v6n2.526

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