Reference skeletal muscle mass values at L3 vertebrae level based on computed tomography in healthy Turkish adults

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia which is described as decreased muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and muscle function is related with poor clinical outcomes. The cut-offs for the diagnosis of low SMM based on computed tomography (CT) have been previously reported in several populations. However, in order to investigate the presence of sarcopenia, it is recommended to use normative data of the study population instead of other reference populations. There is lack of normative SMM data based on CT in Turkish population. Therefore, our aim was to define the sex-specific cut-off values of healthy Turkish population on CT. Methods: Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and psoas muscle mass index (PMI) in 270 healthy kidney donors (20-60 years old) were measured at L3 vertebrae level on CT. Sex-specific SMI-L3 and PMI-L3 distribution was assessed, and cut-off values using two standard deviations to define low SMM in both total study population and younger subjects aged 20-40 years were determined. Results: Sex-specific SMI-L3 cut-off values were calculated as 44.98 and 36.05 cm2/m2 for males and females, respectively in the 20-60 years old donor group. PMI-L3 cut-off values were calculated as 2.63 and 2.02 cm2/m2 for males and females, respectively. In the 20-40 years old subgroup data (88 subject), SMI-L3 cut-off values were 45.47 and 36.19 cm2/m2, and PMI-L3 cut-off values were 3.2 and 2.87 cm2/m2 for males and females, respectively. Conclusion: Our data established the sex-specific cut-off values of SMM in healthy Turkish population and that could be applicable for defining sarcopenia in Turkish population. Copyright © 2019, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine.