Ultrasound assessment of skeletal muscles in patients with metabolic diseases and in healthy individuals over 45 years of age

Introduction. Metabolic diseases negatively impact the structure and function of skeletal muscle. Myosteatosis developing in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity is considered a marker of sarcopenia. Among known imaging methods, skeletal muscle ultrasound is the most accessible and safe method for qualitative and quantitative assessment.

Aim: To assess the qualitative and quantitative parameters of ultrasound examination of skeletal muscles in patients with metabolic diseases and healthy patients over 45 years of age.

Material and Methods. A total of 68 patients (52 women, 16 men) over 45 years of age were included in this study. Among them, 52 patients had metabolic diseases, and 16 controls did not. All patients underwent ultrasound examination of the skeletal muscles of the lower extremities.

Results. Skeletal muscles in patients with metabolic diseases showed the following changes compared to the control group: the rectus femoris was characterized by decreased pennation angle, anatomical cross-sectional area (CSA), physiological CSA, and muscle volume. The medial head of the gastrocnemius was characterized by a decrease in physiological CSA. The tibialis anterior muscle had higher echointensity values in the metabolic disease group (p < 0.05). Patients with metabolic diseases showed stable, directly proportional relationships between the parameters of the studied muscles: height and anatomical CSA; body mass index (BMI) and stiffness; and an inversely proportional relationship between age and anatomical CSA (p < 0.05). The control group was characterized by a directly proportional relationship between anatomical CSA and grip volume and strength; and an inversely proportional relationship between the stiffness coefficient and age (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. Ultrasound examination of skeletal muscles has a wide range of capabilities that allow determining the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of skeletal muscles.

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