Computed Tomography-Defined Body Composition as Prognostic Parameter in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

Body composition comprising low-skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT and VAT) can be assessed by using cross-sectional imaging modalities. Previous analyses suggest that these parameters harbor prognostic relevance in various diseases. Aim of this study was to analyze possible associations of body composition parameters on mortality in patients with clinically suspected acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI).

All patients with clinically suspected AMI were retrospectively assessed between 2016 and 2020. Overall, 137 patients (52 female patients, 37.9%) with a median age of 71 years were included in the present analysis. For all patients, the preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) was used to calculate LSMM, VAT, and SAT.

Overall, 94 patients (68.6%) of the patient cohort died within 30 days within a median of 2 days, range 1-39 days. Of these, 27 patients (19.7%) died within 24 h. According to the CT, 101 patients (73.7%) were classified as being visceral obese, 102 patients (74.5%) as being sarcopenic, and 69 patients (50.4%) as being sarcopenic obese. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was lower in non-survivors compared to survivors (37.5 ± 12.4 cm2/m2 vs. 44.1 ± 13.9 cm2/m2, p = 0.01). There were no associations between body composition parameters with mortality in days (SMI r = 0.07, p = 0.48, SAT r = -0.03, p = 0.77, and VAT r = 0.04, p = 0.68, respectively). In Cox regression analysis, a nonsignificant trend for visceral obesity was observed (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.36-1.05, p = 0.07).

SMI might be a valuable CT-based parameter, which could help discriminate between survivors and non-survivors. Further studies are needed to elucidate the associations between body composition and survival in patients with AMI.