Calf circumference is a useful muscle mass marker for predicting length of stay and mortality: A secondary analysis of a cohort study in hospitalized individuals
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of calf circumference (CC) and determine its association with clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of inpatient. CC values were adjusted by body mass index (BMI) to remove adiposity's confounding effects: the measured value decreased by 3 cm (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²) or 7 cm (BMI 30-40 kg/m²), and the cohort point for CC, indicating muscle mass loss, was ≤33 cm for women and ≤34 cm for men. Clinical outcomes include length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 453 patients (59 [46-68] years, 51.4% men, and 67.8% admitted to surgery) were evaluated. The median LOS was 5 days (interquartile range, 3-8 days), with 52.1% of patients hospitalized for 5 days or longer, and in-hospital mortality observed in 5.1% of patients. About 33.1% and 42.4% of all patients had CC, crude and adjusted by BMI, respectively. Low CC (crude) showed the best accuracy (area under the curve = 0.72) to predict in-hospital mortality. In logistic regression models, it was observed that patients with low CC (crude and BMI-adjusted) were more likely to have poorer outcomes compared to patients with normal CC: LOS ≥5 days (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.5) and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 4.1; 95% confidence interval 1.3-13.0). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced CC values are associated with prolonged LOS and mortality. Considering its clinical applicability, measurement of CC should be introduced in the nutrition assessment of hospitalized individuals.
Source: Nutrition
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,870
OpenAlex ID: W4409841768