Muscle mass and quality as predictors for complications, recurrence and length of hospital stay in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis: a retrospective cohort study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study flow chart.

Table 1. Characteristics of the study population, values are presented as median (interquartile range).

	All n = 501	Female (n = 307)	Male (n = 194)
Age (years)	60 (51–71)	63 (55–72)	54.5 (45–69)
BMI (kg/m^2)	27.4 (24.6–30.5)	27.0 (24.3–30.4)	27.7 (25.2–30.5)
Charlson index (score)*	2 (1–4)	2 (1–4)	1 (0–3)
C-reactive protein (mg/L)*	127 (80–184)	124 (74–177)	134 (89–199)
White blood cell count (x10^9/L)*	12.3 (10.3–14.7)	12.3 (10.4–14.4)	12.5 (10.1–15.3)
Hospital stay (days)	3 (2–4)	3 (2–4)	3 (2–4)
Skeletal muscle mass (cm^2)	116.8 (99.1–151.8)	103.5 (90.9–116.0)	164.6 (139.3–185.1)
Skeletal muscle index (cm^2/m^2)	42.1 (36.3–49.7)	38.2 (34.2–43.1)	50.2 (43.5–57.7)
Muscle radiation attenuation (HU)	35.3 (27.9–41.8)	32.5 (26.2–38.8)	39.2 (32.6–44.8)

* Upon presentation at the Emergency department.

Table 2. Proportions of patients with low versus normal muscle mass and muscle quality.

Muscle measurement (entity)	Males		Females
	Number low/number normal		Number low/number normal
	Cut-off 5^th percentile	Cut-off adjusted by age and BMI	Cut-off 5^th percentile	Cut-off adjusted by age and BMI
Skeletal muscle mass	40/143 (22%)	32/136 (19%)	63/244 (21%)	34/225 (13%)
Skeletal muscle index	31/149 (17%)	28/140 (17%)	35/247 (12%)	17/242 (7%)
Muscle quality	35/159 (18%)	22/146 (13%)	47/260 (15%)	23/236 (9%)

Table 3. Muscle mass/quality in relation to complications, recurrences and length of hospital stay.

	Complication		Recurrence		Hospital duration > 3d
	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Skeletal muscle masssex
Low	4	99	26	77	61*	42*
Normal	7	380	83	304	148*	238*
Skeletal muscle masssex/age/BMI
Low	2	64	18	48	31	35
Normal	7	354	80	281	159	201
Skeletal muscle indexsex
Low	2	64	16	50	36	30
Normal	9	387	90	306	168	227
Skeletal muscle indexsex/age/BMI
Low	1	44	12	33	26	19
Normal	8	374	86	296	164	217
Muscle qualitysex
Low	4	78	12	70	49**	33**
Normal	7	412	100	319	166**	252**
Muscle qualitysex/age/BMI
Low	2	43	9	36	32***	13***
Normal	7	375	89	293	158***	223***

* p = 0.004, ** p = 0.003, *** p = 0.001.