Diagnostic value of computed tomography-based muscle quality and metabolic signatures in heart failure with sarcopenia

Aims

Sarcopenia is a major comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients, but its comprehensive evaluation remains challenging due to resource limitations. Computed tomography (CT) imaging allows opportunistic assessment of both muscle quantity and quality; however, its diagnostic utility and relationships with physical performance and underlying metabolic alterations remain unclear. We investigated the diagnostic utility of single-slice abdominal CT for sarcopenia assessment and explored its association with plasma amino acid profiles in HF patients.

Methods and results

We retrospectively analysed 212 HF patients (73 ± 13 years old; 41% females) who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), abdominal CT imaging, and amino acid profiling, of whom 186 had complete sarcopenia assessment. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria using DXA-measured appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and grip strength, with severe sarcopenia additionally requiring low Short Physical Performance Battery scores. CT-measured skeletal muscle area index (SMI) at the lumbar vertebral level combined with grip strength showed high diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC): 0.96 for males, 0.88 for females], with optimal cut-off values of 54 cm²/m² for males and 40 cm²/m² for females. SMI was similarly reduced in non-severe and severe sarcopenia patients, whereas mean muscle attenuation (MMA), an index of intramuscular lipid infiltration, was decreased exclusively in patients with severe sarcopenia. In multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, HF functional class and diabetes, decreased MMA remained the only CT-measured index significantly associated with low physical performance. MMA showed higher predictive value than SMI for severe sarcopenia in males (AUC 0.81 vs. 0.54, P = 0.039). Several amino acids (leucine, β-alanine and 3-methylhistidine) and the Fischer ratio were significantly associated with MMA, independent of SMI and established MMA determinants including sex, age, and body mass index.

Conclusions

Single-slice abdominal CT provides accurate sarcopenia diagnosis in HF patients with reduced muscle strength, with muscle quality rather than quantity determining physical performance. Specific amino acid profiles associated with muscle quality changes suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing sarcopenia progression.