PD442 - RECTUS FEMORIS ULTRASOUND AND SARCOPENIA IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: A MULTICENTER STUDY (NUTRIELA PROJECT)

PD442

RECTUS FEMORIS ULTRASOUND AND SARCOPENIA IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: A MULTICENTER STUDY (NUTRIELA PROJECT)

M. González-Pacheco¹, G. Adiego-Monforte¹, C. Novo-Rodríguez², M. T. ZARCO MARTIN^3,*, F. J. Vílchez-López¹

¹Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, , Cádiz, ²Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, ³Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain

Rationale: Sarcopenia is common in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and its early detection is clinically relevant due to its functional and nutritional impact. We evaluated the usefulness of rectus femoris ultrasound parameters for identifying sarcopenia in this population.

Methods: We conducted an ambispective multicenter observational study of 256 ALS patients. Sarcopenia was defined according to EWGSOP2 criteria. Ultrasound variables were compared between sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups using Student’s t-test. ROC curve analysis for optimal cut-off points, and multivariable binary logistic regression adjusted for age and sex were performed.

Results: 55% were men, with a mean age of 63.5 years and a mean BMI of 24.1 kg/m². Disease stage II was the most frequent (40.5%). The mean ALSFRS-R score was 34.5, indicating moderate progression, and 72.8% had spinal symptom onset. 68% had sarcopenia. Rectus femoris ultrasound showed lower values in patients with sarcopenia than those without sarcopenia for muscle area (3.4 ± 1.45 vs 4.3 cm² ± 1.53 cm²; p<0.001) and Y-axis (1.09 ± 0.35 cm vs 1.36 ± 0.37 cm; p<0.001). ROC analysis identified cut-off points for sarcopenia of muscle area ≤3.69 cm² (AUC 0.685; sensivity 66%; specificity 67%) and Y-axis ≤1.31 cm (AUC 0.698; sensivity 75%; specificity 55%), both p<0.001. In multivariable models adjusted for age and sex, Y-axis (OR 0.214; 95% CI 0.0895–0.512; p<0.001) and muscle area (OR 0.777; 95% CI 0.6323–0.954; p=0.016) were independently associated with sarcopenia; age was significant in both models, whereas sex was not.

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Conclusion: In patients with ALS, sarcopenia was associated with lower rectus femoris ultrasound values. Muscle area and Y-axis showed discriminatory capacity and independent association with sarcopenia, supporting the usefulness of muscle ultrasound as a complementary tool for its assessment.

Disclosure of Interest: M. González-Pacheco Grant / Research Support from: This study received financial support from Persan Farma., G. Adiego-Monforte Grant / Research Support from: This study received financial support from Persan Farma., C. Novo-Rodríguez Grant / Research Support from: This study received financial support from Persan Farma. , M. T. ZARCO MARTIN Grant / Research Support from: This study received financial support from Persan Farma., F. Vílchez-López Grant / Research Support from: This study received financial support from Persan Farma.