Assessment of the Relationship between Pre-Existing Muscle Atrophy, Subcutaneous Fat Volume, and the Prognosis of COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with its rapid transmission and emergence, has become a major global public health concern. COVID-19 patients are at an increased risk of acute skeletal muscle loss and complications such as muscular weakness, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, sarcopenia has been linked to COVID-19 vulnerability, hospitalization rates, and severity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between pre-existing sarcopenia, subcutaneous fat, and the prognosis of COVID-19. Methods: Patients over 18 with positive tests who had chest CT scans without underlying conditions were included in this cohort study. The ratio of muscle volume to the total body surface area was calculated. Patients were divided into four subgroups: outpatients, hospitalized, ICU admitted, and deceased. The initial muscle volume for each group was compared. Results: In total, 127 patients were included in the study, 63 (49%) of whom were male. The mean age of the patients was 51.8 ± 18.16 (from 23 to 87 years). In total, 27 patients (21.3%) were treated as outpatients, 49 patients (38.6%) were hospitalized, and 23 (18.1%) were admitted to the ICU. Twenty-eight patients (22%) died. The total muscle/surface area ratio was significantly associated with disease outcome and prognosis. The ratio was significantly lower in dead individuals (p = 0.017). Conclusions: Sarcopenia was discovered to be significantly associated with the severity of COVID-19 and a poor prognosis. Reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 is possible by identifying and managing sarcopenia-related risk factors.