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. 2023 Feb 4;12(4):1251.
doi: 10.3390/jcm12041251.

Association of Sonographic Sarcopenia and Falls in Older Adults Presenting to the Emergency Department

Thiti Wongtangman  1   2 , Phraewa Thatphet  1   3 , Hamid Shokoohi  1   4 , Kathleen McFadden  1   4 , Irene Ma  4   5 , Ahad Al Saud  1   4   6 , Rachel Vivian  4   7 , Ryan Hines  1 , Jamie Gullikson  1   4 , Christina Morone  1   4 , Jason Parente  1 , Stany Perkisas  8   9 , Shan W Liu  1
Affiliations

Association of Sonographic Sarcopenia and Falls in Older Adults Presenting to the Emergency Department

Thiti Wongtangman et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background and objective: To determine the association between point-of-care-ultrasonography (POCUS)-measured sarcopenia and grip strength, as well as the history of prior-year falls among older adults admitted to the emergency department observation unit (EDOU).

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 8 months at a large urban teaching hospital. A consecutive sample of patients who were 65 years or older and admitted to the EDOU were enrolled in the study. Using standardized techniques, trained research assistants and co-investigators measured patients' biceps brachii and thigh quadriceps muscles via a linear transducer. Grip strength was measured using a Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Participants were surveyed regarding their history of falls in the prior year. Logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship of sarcopenia and grip strength to a history of falls (the primary outcome).

Results: Among 199 participants (55% female), 46% reported falling in the prior year. The median biceps thickness was 2.22 cm with an Interquartile range [IQR] of 1.87-2.74, and the median thigh muscle thickness was 2.91 cm with an IQR of 2.40-3.49. A univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between higher thigh muscle thickness, normal grip strength, and history of prior-year falling, with an odds ratio [OR] of 0.67 (95% conference interval [95%CI] 0.47-0.95) and an OR of 0.51 (95%CI 0.29-0.91), respectively. In multivariate logistic regression, only higher thigh muscle thickness was correlated with a history of prior-year falls, with an OR of 0.59 (95% CI 0.38-0.91).

Conclusions: POCUS-measured thigh muscle thickness has the potential to identify patients who have fallen and thus are at high risk for future falls.

Keywords: POCUS; emergency department; falls; geriatric; grip strength; muscle mass; muscle strength; older adults; point-of-care-ultrasonography; sarcopenia; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ref. [33] Bicep brachii thickness measurement.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Ref. [33] Thigh muscle thickness measurement. ST = subcutaneous tissue; RF = rectus femoris; VI = vastus intermedius; QT; quadricep’s thickness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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