PD002 - DETERMINANTS OF LOW QUADRICEPS MUSCLE THICKNESS AT ICU ADMISSION IN CRITICALLY ILL ADULTS

PD002

DETERMINANTS OF LOW QUADRICEPS MUSCLE THICKNESS AT ICU ADMISSION IN CRITICALLY ILL ADULTS

C. F. Burgel¹ on behalf of Nutrição Clínica Baseada em evidências, I. M. Freitas² on behalf of Nutrição Clínica Baseada em evidências, B. Z. Oliveira de Carvalho¹ on behalf of Nutrição Clínica Baseada em evidências, F. M. Silva^3,* on behalf of Nutrição Clínica Baseada em evidências on behalf of Nutrição Clínica Baseada em evidências

¹Registered Dietitian. PhD Student at Health Science Postgraduate Program, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, ²Nutrition, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, ³Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Rationale: Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is frequently observed at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is consistently associated with worse clinical outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality. Identifying factors related to reduced muscle mass at admission may support early risk stratification and guide targeted interventions in critically ill patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults (≥18 years) admitted to a general ICU within the first 24 hours. Sociodemographic and nutritional data were obtained through structured anamnesis, and clinical information was collected from electronic medical records. Quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) was measured in centimeters using bedside B-mode ultrasound. Low muscle mass was defined as QMLT values below the 25th percentile of the sample. Associations between variables and low QMLT were assessed using binary logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 399 patients were included (mean age 61.4 ± 14.9 years; 56.6% male). The main reasons for ICU admission were uncomplicated postoperative recovery (35.8%) and sepsis (16.8%). In univariate analysis, older age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.04), unintentional weight loss in the previous six months (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.03–2.61), reduced food intake in the two weeks prior to admission (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.44–3.74), and presence of pressure injuries (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.05–3.20) were associated with low QMLT. In multivariate analysis, older age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04) and reduced prior food intake (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.22–4.18) remained independently associated.

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Conclusion: Older age and decreased food intake before ICU admission were independently associated with reduced quadriceps muscle thickness. These findings highlight the importance of early nutritional screening and timely, targeted interventions to preserve muscle mass and potentially improve outcomes in high-risk critically ill patients.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared