Diaphragmatic muscle thickness in older people with and without sarcopenia

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between muscle thickness and echo intensity with cognitive and physical dimensions like functional capacity measured in older people. This cross-sectional study involved 20 older adults (15 women and 5 men, mean age ± SD: 85 ± 7 years, body mass index: 25 ± 3 kg/m2) from a geriatric centre in Malaga (Spain). Anthropometric measurements, cognitive assessment with Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire and Motor Memory test, Physical Performance with Short Physical Performance Battery, and muscle strength were tested. Additionally, using B-mode ultrasonography, images of wrist flexors, biceps brachii, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior were captured, and muscle thickness and echo intensity variables were extracted. An association between muscle parameters assessed by ultrasonography and cognitive and physical dimensions were found in older people. Echo intensity was the best predictor in a set of regression models with different muscle parameters and a battery of cognitive and physical tests in older people. Echo intensity adjusted by handgrip strength could be a low cost and ambulatory index and an indirect and reversible indicator of functional capacity.

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Diaphragmatic muscle thickness and diaphragmatic function are reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared to those with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203320919848 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 715-720

Author(s):

Hasan Satış ◽

Emetullah Cindil ◽

Reyhan B Salman ◽

Dilek Yapar ◽

Esra Temel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Primary Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Deep Inspiration ◽

Pulmonary Infections ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Primary Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Diaphragmatic Muscle ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary infections, as well as a rare condition known as shrinking lung syndrome (SLS). The diaphragm has an important role to play in lung physiology and might also play a role in these adverse events. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SLE patients have impairment in their diaphragmatic muscle thickness and function with respect to another connective-tissue disease: primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Method Patients diagnosed with SLE who were in remission or who had minimal disease activity and had at least one year of follow-up were included in this study. Patients with known lung pathology and smokers were excluded. Patients with pSS constituted the second experimental group. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the diaphragmatic muscle was conducted by an experienced independent sonographer at three time points, diaphragmatic thickness during deep and quiet inspiration and maximum expiration being measured. Diaphragmatic muscle function was evaluated with maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP). Results A total of 115 patients were studied ( n = 39 SLE; n = 76 pSS). The mean ± standard deviation ( SD) thickness of the diaphragmatic muscles during quiet inspiration was significantly reduced in patients with SLE compared to patients with pSS (2.32 mm vs. 2.81 mm; p < 0.05). Similarly, the thickness during deep inspiration and at maximum deep expiration were significantly lower in SLE patients (2.88 mm vs. 3.29 mm and 1.92 mm vs. 2.33 mm, respectively; p < 0.01). MIPs and MEPs, defined as the percentages of expected values, were significantly lower in patients with SLE compared to those with pSS (80% vs. 92% and 76% vs. 120%, respectively; p < 0.05). Diaphragmatic muscle thickness during deep inspiration demonstrated a moderate correlation with MIP ( r = 0.434; p = 0.001). Conclusion SLE patients had reduced diaphragmatic muscle thickness compared to those with pSS, which was associated with impaired functional tests. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate whether structural and functional impairments in diaphragmatic muscle play a role in an increased risk of pulmonary infections and SLS in patients with SLE.

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Ultrasound measurements of gastrocnemius muscle thickness in older people with sarcopenia

Clinical Interventions in Aging ◽

10.2147/cia.s179445 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol Volume 13 ◽

pp. 2193-2199 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jing Wang ◽

Ying Hu ◽

Guo Tian

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Ultrasound Measurements

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Health status can predict diaphragmatic muscle thickness in COPD: pilot study

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/fm.2021.34124 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

Author(s):

Carolina da Rosa Wendpap ◽

Tamires Daros dos Santos ◽

Everton Lüdke ◽

Adriane Schmidt Pasqualoto ◽

Aron Ferreira da Silveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Diaphragmatic Muscle ◽

Mortality Index

Abstract Introduction: Among the systemic implications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) there are changes in the diaphragm and impact on health status. However, there are few studies on the possible relationship between these variables, and whether health status could predict diaphragmatic muscle thickness (DMT). Objective: To investigate whether there is a relationship between DMT and the prognostic mortality index Body Mass-Index, Airway Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity (BODE), dyspnea and health status, and to investigate whether health status can predict DMT in patients with COPD entering a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Methods: This is a pilot study with a cross-sectional design. Diaphragmatic muscle thickness was evaluated using ultrasound; health status through the COPD Assessment Test (CAT); the sensation of dyspnea by the modified Medical Research Council scale; and mortality, using the BODE index. Results: The sample consisted of 13 patients (68.69 ± 9.3 years) classified as having moderate to severe COPD. There was a strong and inverse correlation between diaphragmatic muscle thickness and health status (r = -0.735; p = 0.004). Simple regression analysis demonstrated that health status influenced diaphragmatic muscle thickness (β = -0.002; IC 95% - 0.004 to -0.001; p = 0.004), explaining 49% of the variance. However, no correlations were observed between diaphragmatic muscle thickness with dyspnea (r = 0.005; p = 0.985) or with the BODE mortality index (r = -0.219; p = 0.472). Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated a strong inverse correlation between health status and DMT. In addition, health status was able to predict DMT in patients with COPD.

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