Computed Tomography-Derived Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity Is an Early, Sensitive Marker of Age-Related Musculoskeletal Changes in Healthy Adults

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Abstract

Background: A decrease in computed tomography (CT)-derived skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) reflects age-related ectopic fat infiltration of muscle, compromising muscle function and metabolism. We investigated the age-related trajectory of SMD and its association with vertebral trabecular bone density in healthy adults. Methods: In a cohort of healthy adult kidney donors aged 19 to 69 years (n=583), skeletal muscle index (SMI, skeletal muscle area/height2), SMD, and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat (V/S) ratio were analyzed at the level of L3 from preoperative CT scans. Low bone mass was defined as an L1 trabecular Hounsfield unit (HU) <160 HU. Results: L3SMD showed constant decline from the second decade (annual change -0.38% and -0.43% in men and women), whereas the decline of L3SMI became evident only after the fourth decade of life (-0.37% and -0.18% in men and women). One HU decline in L3SMD was associated with elevated odds of low bone mass (adjusted odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.13; P=0.003), independent of L3SMI, age, sex, and V/S ratio, with better discriminatory ability compared to L3SMI (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve 0.68 vs. 0.53, P<0.001). L3SMD improved the identification of low bone mass when added to age, sex, V/S ratio, and L3SMI (category-free net reclassification improvement 0.349, P<0.001; integrated discrimination improvement 0.015, P=0.0165). Conclusion: L3SMD can be an early marker for age-related musculoskeletal changes showing linear decline throughout life from the second decade in healthy adults, with potential diagnostic value for individuals with low bone mass.

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Jung, Y. W., Hong, N., Na, J. C., Han, W. K., & Rhee, Y. (2021). Computed Tomography-Derived Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity Is an Early, Sensitive Marker of Age-Related Musculoskeletal Changes in Healthy Adults. Endocrinology and Metabolism, 36(6), 1201–1210. https://doi.org/10.3803/ENM.2021.1206

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