Usefulness of Psoas Muscle Area to Predict Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and frailty on long-term outcomes and quality of life after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

BACKGROUND

Association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and long-term mortality as well as the quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is still unclear.

AIM

We sought to evaluate the impact of COPD on mortality and QoL of patients with AS undergoing TAVI.

METHODS

A total of 148 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI were enrolled and stratified by history of COPD.

RESULTS

Of 148 patients enrolled, 19 (12.8%) patients had a history of COPD. Patients with COPD were high-risk patients with higher prevalence of incomplete revascularization and frailty features. At follow-up of 15.8 months, all-cause mortality in patients with COPD was over four times higher than in patients without COPD [17.8% vs. 52.6%; p = 0.002-age/gender-adjusted OR (95% CI) 4.73 (1.69-13.24)]. On the other hand, in Cox regression model, the only independent predictors of all-cause death at long-term follow-up were: incomplete coronary revascularization [HR (95% CI) 5.45 (2.38-12.52); p = 0.001], estimated glomerular filtration rate [per 1 ml/min/1.73 m² increase: 0.96 (0.94-0.98); p = 0.001], and previous stroke/transient ischemic attack [2.86 (1.17-7.00); p = 0.021]. Also, the difference in mortality between patients with and without COPD was not significant after adjustment for the most of frailty indices. Importantly, groups were comparable in terms of QoL at baseline and 12 months.

CONCLUSION

COPD may pose an important factor affecting long-term outcomes of patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI. However, its effects might be partially related to coexisting comorbidities and frailty.

Usefulness of Psoas Muscle Area and Volume and Frailty Scoring to Predict Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Numerous scales were implemented for frailty assessment. However, limited evidence and recommendations for frailty tools for everyday clinical practice in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) exist. Thus, we aimed to determine the long-term predictive value of different frailty scores and objective assessment of sarcopenia by imaging techniques in patients after TAVI. Frailty indexes according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) recommendations, as well as other available scales of frailty, were assessed at baseline. Sarcopenia was evaluated with psoas muscle area (PSA) and psoas muscle volume (PSV) using computed tomography (CT) scans. The primary end point was 12-month all-cause mortality. We enrolled 153 patients who underwent TAVI with analyzable CT scans and complete frailty data. The median of PSA normalized for body surface area was 2,581.1 (2,214.9 to 2,654.9) mm²/m², and the median of normalized PSV was 338.8 (288.1-365.6) cc/m². At 12 months, all-cause mortality and new-onset atrial fibrillation were highest in the lowest tertile of normalized PSA. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, all the tested frailty indexes, as well as PSA and PSV, were good predictors of 12-month all-cause mortality after TAVI with the highest area under the curve value for PSA and PSV normalized for body surface area. In conclusion, normalized PSA and PSV values are strong predictors of long-term mortality after TAVI. CT evaluation of psoas muscles could be incorporated to preprocedural comprehensive clinical models used for prediction of outcomes in patients scheduled for TAVI.

Computed tomography-based fat and muscle characteristics are associated with mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT)-based fat and muscle measures are associated with outcome in large populations. We tested if muscle and fat characteristics are associated with long-term outcomes after TAVR.

METHODS

We included 403 clinical CTs performed prior to TAVR at our center between 2008 and 2016, measuring area (cm2) and density (Hounsfield units, HU) of both psoas muscles (PM), subcutaneous adipose (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Area measures were indexed to height, log-transformed and both area and density were standardized for analysis. We assessed the association of each measure with all-cause mortality (adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score.

RESULTS

Of the 403 individuals (83 ± 8 years; 52% female), 167 (41.4%) died during a median follow-up of 458 days (interquartile range IQR 297-840). Fat measures were feasible and rapid. Fat area was available in 242 (60%) patients with an adequate field of view. Individuals with the lowest PM area, SAT area or VAT area exhibited the highest hazard of mortality. In addition, greater SAT density was associated with a higher mortality hazard (adjusted HR per standard deviation increase in density = 1.35, 95%CI 1.10-1.67, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Rapid CT-based tissue characterization is feasible in patients referred for TAVR. Decreased PM area and increased SAT density are associated with long-term mortality after TAVR, even after accounting for age, sex, BMI, and STS score. Further studies are necessary to interrogate sex-specific relationships between CT tissue metrics and mortality and whether CT measures are incremental to well-established frailty metrics.

Psoas Muscle Size Predicts Risk-Adjusted Outcomes After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND

Frailty is an important predictor of outcomes after cardiac surgery, but utility is limited by difficult assessment and quantification. We hypothesize that sarcopenia defined as psoas muscle cross-sectional area is a useful predictor of surgical aortic valve replacement outcomes in moderate to high-risk patients.

METHODS

Moderate to high risk patients (predicted risk of mortality greater than 3%) who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement with or without coronary artery bypass were extracted from an institutional database (2009 to 2016). Psoas index was calculated as the cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle at the L4 vertebral level normalized to body surface area. Patients were stratified by sarcopenia status, defined as less than 25th sex-specific percentile. Multivariable regression analysis identified risk-adjusted associations with psoas index using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk scores.

RESULTS

Of the 240 patients included, the median predicted risk of mortality was 6%, median age 80 years, and 40% were female. Patients with (33.3%) and without (66.7%) sarcopenia had equivalent baseline risk (median predicted risk of mortality 5.7% versus 6.0%, p = 0.29). Patients with sarcopenia had higher 1-year mortality (31.9% versus 16.9% p = 0.03). Psoas index significantly predicted risk-adjusted 1-year mortality (odds ratio 0.84, p = 0.02) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio 0.92, p = 0.04), as well as risk-adjusted major morbidity, prolonged ventilation, length of stay, discharge to a facility, and hospital cost. Finally, psoas index measurements were highly reproducible (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.944).

CONCLUSIONS

Psoas index is an easily obtained and reproducible measure of frailty that predicts risk-adjusted resource utilization, morbidity, and long-term mortality. Psoas index may improve procedural selection and risk adjustment in high-risk patients with aortic valve disease.

Prognostic Value of Psoas Muscle Area and Density in Patients Who Undergo Cardiovascular Surgery

BACKGROUND

Low skeletal muscle density, determined using computed tomography (CT), has yet to be examined in terms of muscle function and prognostic capability in patients who require open cardiovascular surgery. This study was performed to examine whether psoas muscle area and density, determined using CT, are associated with postoperative mortality in patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery.

METHODS

We reviewed the findings in 773 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative CT imaging, including the level of the third lumbar vertebra for clinical purposes. We measured grip strength, gait speed, and 6-minute walking distance to assess muscle function before hospital discharge. Skeletal muscle area was calculated from psoas muscle cross-sectional area (in squared centimeters) on preoperative CT images at the level of the third lumbar vertebra divided by the square of the patient's height in metres to give the skeletal muscle index (SMI). Skeletal muscle density determined by muscle attenuation (MA) was calculated by measuring the average Hounsfield units of the psoas muscle cross-sectional area.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 65.0 ± 13.1 years, and 64.7% of the patients were male. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low MA, but not SMI, was significantly associated with muscle function, and all-cause mortality (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that low MA, but not low SMI, predicted mortality (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Low skeletal muscle density, but not skeletal muscle area, predicted poorer muscle function and mortality in patients who undergo cardiac surgery.

Prospective Assessment of Frailty Using the Fried Criteria in Patients Undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy

Frail patients are more prone to adverse events after cardiac surgery, particularly after implantation of left ventricular assist devices. Thus, frailty assessment may help identify patients unlikely to benefit from left ventricular assist device therapy. The purpose was to establish a suitable measure of frailty in adults with end-stage heart failure. In a prospective cohort of 75 patients (age 58 ± 12 years) with end-stage heart failure, we assessed the association between frailty (5-component Fried criteria) and the composite primary outcome of inpatient mortality or prolonged length of stay, as well as extubation status, time on ventilator, discharge status, and long-term mortality. Fried frailty criteria were met in 44 (59%) patients, but there was no association with the primary outcome (p = 0.10). However, an abridged set of 3 criteria (exhaustion, inactivity, and grip strength) was predictive of the primary outcome (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 7.4), and of time to extubation and time to discharge. In patients with advanced heart failure, the 5-component Fried criteria may not be optimally sensitive to clinical differences. In conclusion, an abridged set of 3 frailty criteria was predictive of the primary outcome and several secondary outcomes, and may therefore be a clinically useful tool in this population.

Psoas muscle area is not representative of total skeletal muscle area in the assessment of sarcopenia in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography measurements of total skeletal muscle area can detect changes and predict overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. This study investigates whether assessment of psoas muscle area reflects total muscle area and can be used to assess sarcopenia in ovarian cancer patients.

METHODS

Ovarian cancer patients (n = 150) treated with induction chemotherapy and interval debulking were enrolled retrospectively in this longitudinal study. Muscle was measured cross sectionally with computed tomography in three ways: (i) software quantification of total skeletal muscle area (SMA); (ii) software quantification of psoas muscle area (PA); and (iii) manual measurement of length and width of the psoas muscle to derive the psoas surface area (PLW). Pearson correlation between the different methods was studied. Patients were divided into two groups based on the extent of change in muscle area, and agreement was measured with kappa coefficients. Cox-regression was used to test predictors for OS.

RESULTS

Correlation between SMA and both psoas muscle area measurements was poor (r = 0.52 and 0.39 for PA and PLW, respectively). After categorizing patients into muscle loss or gain, kappa agreement was also poor for all comparisons (all κ < 0.40). In regression analysis, SMA loss was predictive of poor OS (hazard ratio 1.698 (95%CI 1.038-2.778), P = 0.035). No relationship with OS was seen for PA or PLW loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Change in psoas muscle area is not representative of total muscle area change and should not be used to substitute total skeletal muscle to predict survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

Association of frailty status with acute kidney injury and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Frailty is a common condition in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aim of this systematic review was to assess the impact of frailty status on acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality after TAVR.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from the inception through November 2016. The protocol for this study is registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; no. CRD42016052350). Studies that reported odds ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios comparing the risk of AKI after TAVR in frail vs. non-frail patients were included. Mortality risk was evaluated among the studies that reported AKI-related outcomes. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method.

Results

Eight cohort studies with a total of 10,498 patients were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The pooled RR of AKI after TAVR among the frail patients was 1.19 (95% CI 0.97–1.46, I² = 0), compared with non-frail patients. When the meta-analysis was restricted only to studies with standardized AKI diagnosis according to Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 criteria, the pooled RRs of AKI in frail patients was 1.16 (95% CI 0.91–1.47, I² = 0). Within the selected studies, frailty status was significantly associated with increased mortality (RR 2.01; 95% CI 1.44–2.80, I² = 58).

Conclusion

The findings from our study suggest no significant association between frailty status and AKI after TAVR. However, frailty status is associated with mortality after TAVR and may aid appropriate patient selection for TAVR.

Psoas Muscle Area as a Predictor of Outcomes in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Frailty is a powerful predictor of outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Sarcopenia as assessed by psoas muscle area (PMA) is a validated tool to assess frailty before surgical procedures. We evaluated PMA as a predictor of outcomes after TAVI in 152 consecutive patients who underwent this procedure at our institution from 2011 to 2014. Preoperative computed tomography scans were used to measure PMA, which then was indexed to body surface area. Outcomes evaluated included (1) early poor outcome (30 days mortality, stroke, dialysis, and prolonged ventilation), (2) 1-year mortality, and (3) high-resource utilization (length of stay >7 days, discharge to rehabilitation, or readmission within 30 days). Indexed PMA (odds ratio [OR] 3.19, confidence interval [CI] 1.30 to 7.83; p = 0.012) and age (OR 1.92, CI 1.87 to 1.98; p = 0.012) predicted early poor outcome. Society of Thoracic Surgeons score predicted 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 3.07, CI 1.93 to 6.23; p = 0.011). High-resource utilization was observed more frequently in patients with PMA less than the median (73% vs 51%, OR 2.65, CI 1.32 to 5.36; p = 0.006). In conclusion, indexed PMA predicts early poor outcome and high-resource utilization after TAVI.

Prognostic Usefulness of Arm and Calf Circumference in Patients ≥65 Years of Age With Cardiovascular Disease

Current diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia require measurement of muscle function (MF) and muscle mass. Mid upper arm circumference (AC) and calf circumference (CC) are currently used as metrics of muscle mass. This study was performed to compare the prognostic predictive capabilities of AC and CC in older patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study population consisted of 599 admitted patients aged ≥65 years (74.8 ± 6.3 years, 392 men) with CVD. We measured MF (gait speed and grip strength), AC, and CC before hospital discharge. The end point was all-cause mortality. During follow-up (median 1.63 years, interquartile range 2.09 years), 72 deaths occurred. Both high AC and high CC were associated with better outcome; however, only AC (adjusted hazard ratio per SD increase 0.56, p = 0.023), but not CC (adjusted hazard ratio per SD increase 0.91, p = 0.696), showed significant independent prognostic capability after adjusting for other prognostic factors. Moreover, adding AC to MF (0.71 vs 0.62, p = 0.005) but not CC to MF (0.67 vs 0.62, p = 0.188) significantly increased the area under the curve on receiver operating characteristic curve. In conclusion, a high AC, but not CC, was an independent predictor of survival and could be a readily available and simple metric for risk stratification in older patients with CVD.