PD044 - BEYOND MUSCLE: THE ROLE OF SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE TISSUE IN MUSCLE QUALITY

PD044

BEYOND MUSCLE: THE ROLE OF SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE TISSUE IN MUSCLE QUALITY

F. Mucarzel Suarez-Arana^1,*, R. Cartiel Vesperina¹, F. X. Palmas Candia¹, M. Ricart Viles¹, A. Lluch Romero¹, A. Zabalegui Eguinoa¹, R. Burgos Pelaez¹

¹Nutritional Support Unit, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

Rationale: Tissue quality and density can be estimated by echogenicity on GreyScale (GS) when assessing tissues through Ultrasound (US). Currently, no reference values exist for adipose tissue (AT) density or its relationship with muscle density. The objective is to determine density and quantity of AT, and to analyse its relationship with muscle quality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after elective surgery.

Methods: Cross-sectional study. Muscle area (cm²) and AT thickness (cm) were measured by US at the lower third of the Rectus Femoris. Muscle and AT density were analysed using semi-automated BAT® software. Functional tests (chair stand and gait speed), handgrip strength (HGs), and Heckmatt visual scale were used to classify echogenicity (≥3 indicating higher infiltration). Mean differences were assessed by Student’s t-test, and predictors of muscle echogenicity by sex-adjusted linear regression.

Results: Sixty CRC patients were included (50% women), mean age 65.43±12.97. A Heckmatt Scale ≥3 was observed in 36.7% of cases. Men showed greater muscle area (4.55±1.54 vs 3.18±0.98 cm²; p=0.02), lower AT quantity (0.59±0.41 vs 1.22±0.64 cm; p=0.019), but poorer AT quality (GS-AT 70.87±15.87 vs 54.6±12.45; p<0.001). Muscle GS did not differ by sex although values tended to be higher in women (65.77±77 vs 75.45±24.08; p=0.091). In men, muscle GS values were higher in those with frailty (SPPB<8) (79.8±1.38 vs 63.61±17.93; p<0.001). Muscle quality was moderately associated with AT quantity and quality in men (r=0.66), and strongly with AT quality in women (r=0.77). Although men showed higher HGs(37.15 vs 20.7 kg; p=0.029), no better functional performance was observed (chair stand p=0.321; gait p=0.422).

Conclusion: Muscle quality is closely linked to adipose tissue quality. Grayscale ultrasound adds value beyond conventional measures by identifying qualitative alterations associated with adiposity and function, particularly in men.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared