Lower Muscle Strength and Increased Visceral Fat Associated with No-reflow and High Gensini Score in STEMI

Abstract

Background: The impact of fat distribution, muscle mass, and muscle strength on no-reflow and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. Objective: To investigate association between muscle strength and fat and muscle mass and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods: We included 218 patients with STEMI who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated the no-reflow phenomenon in infarct-related artery and calculated Gensini scores from initial angiograms as indicative of coronary atherosclerosis severity. The patients were divided into 2 groups as patients with no-reflow and with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade 3 flow and patients with low (<55) Gensini and with high (≥55) Gensini. Patients' total fat, muscle mass, visceral fat mass, and muscle strength were measured via body composition analyzer and handgrip dynamometer. Results: High Gensini patients had a greater body mass index (BMI) and lower handgrip strength and more visceral fat (P =.05, P =.017, and P