Sarcopenia is a Predictor of Surgical Morbidity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Published in: Inflammatory bowel diseases Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1867 - 1872
• Main Authors: Pedersen, Mark, Cromwell, John, Nau, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - complications; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - surgery; Iowa; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Reoperation - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Sarcopenia - complications; Sarcopenia - diagnostic imaging; Sepsis - mortality; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1078-0998; 1536-4844
• DOI: 10.1097/mib.0000000000001166

Sarcopenia is associated with an increased risk of operative morbidity and mortality. The impact of sarcopenia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been evaluated. This study assessed the role of sarcopenia on operative outcomes in IBD. A retrospective review of American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data of patients with IBD was completed. Records were abstracted for comorbidities and perioperative complications. The Hounsfield unit average calculation was used from preoperative computed tomography (CT). Criteria for sarcopenia were based on the lowest 25th percentile. Complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Statistical analysis was completed using SAS. There were 178 patients included. Sarcopenic patients were more likely to be older (P = 0.001), have hypertension (odds ratio = 2.23), and be diabetic (5.27). In those patients younger than 40 years, sarcopenia was an independent predictor of complications. This subset was significantly more likely to have a normal or elevated body mass index. In this population, the average age of sarcopenic patients is increased from those who do not meet criteria. Among patients younger than 40 years, sarcopenia affects surgical outcomes. Assessment of sarcopenia can be used to improve preoperative management and describe risks before surgery in patients with IBD.