Paediatric reference values for total psoas muscle area.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sarcopenia, the unintentional loss of skeletal muscle mass, is associated with poor outcomes in adult patient populations. In adults, sarcopenia is often ascertained by cross-sectional imaging of the psoas muscle area (PMA). Although children with chronic medical illnesses may be at increased risk for muscle loss because of nutritional deficiencies, physical deconditioning, endocrine anomalies, and systemic inflammation, consistent quantitative definitions for sarcopenia in children are lacking. We aimed to generate paediatric reference values for PMA at two intervertebral lumbar levels, L3-4 and L4-5.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we analysed abdominal computed tomography scans of consecutive children presenting to the emergency department. Participants

SUBMITTER: Lurz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7113526 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature