Association of CT-derived muscle quality with multiple geriatric syndromes in older adults: a cross-sectional study

The relationship between skeletal muscle quality and geriatric syndromes remains unclear. We investigated associations between muscle health parameters and geriatric syndromes in older adults. To examine the associations between computed tomography (CT)-derived muscle quality parameters and multiple geriatric syndromes in older adults. Participants were aged ≥ 65 years and had abdominal computed tomography images before and after 1 year of the index date from outpatient and inpatient settings at a medical center between January 2020 and December 2021. We assessed skeletal muscle area (SMA), skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and normal attenuation muscle area/total abdominal muscle area (NAMA/TAMA) ratio. We used correlation analyses to examine the relationship between muscle health and geriatric syndromes. Among 121 participants, higher SMD was associated with better ADL (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), higher utility (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), less frailty (r = -0.38, p < 0.001), less cognitive impairment (r = -0.3, p < 0.001), and fewer pressure injuries (r = -0.2, p < 0.05). Higher SMI was associated with better ADL (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), higher utility (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), less frailty (r = -0.238, p < 0.05), and reduced depression (r = -0.29, p < 0.05). Higher NAMA/TAMA was associated with better ADL (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), higher utility (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), less frailty (r = -0.4, p < 0.001), less cognitive impairment (r = -0.3, p < 0.05), fewer pressure injuries (r = -0.22, p < 0.05), and lower odds of moderate/severe frailty (OR: 0.58, p < 0.022). Skeletal muscle quality parameters are associated with multiple geriatric syndromes, particularly frailty severity. Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish temporal relationship.