Antigravity muscle density on computed tomography and health-related independence in normal weight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• DOI: 10.1186/s12931-025-03211-y
• Publication Date: 2025-04-13T18:00:16Z
• Authors: Satoru Terada; Naoya Tanabe; Tomoki Maetani; Yusuke Shiraishi; Kunihiko Terada; Hiroshi Shima; Tsuyoshi Oguma; Ryo Sakamoto; Megumi Kanasaki; Izuru Masuda; Atsuyasu Sato; Susumu Sato; Toyohiro Hirai
• Keywords: Independence

Low body mass index (BMI) is a prognostic factor, and skeletal muscle adiposity may affect mortality irrespective of BMI in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the association between healthy life expectancy normal-weight remains unestablished. To examine whether lower chest computed tomography (CT)-assessed erector spinae density (ESMD), which represents antigravity adiposity, associated subsequent loss health-related independence COPD. The ESMD limit normal (LLN) was determined 194 subjects undergoing lung cancer screening CT. In prospective cohort COPD baseline inspiratory/expiratory CT, onset independence, requiring long-term nursing facility or home nursing/medical care, recorded over 5 years. Smokers (n = 199) were divided into 4 groups on basis ESMD-LLN: underweight 22), 40) without 81) low ESMD, overweight 56). Greater airway wall thickening BMI-independent ESMD. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model including only 121) indicated that independently higher loss-of-independence rate after adjusting for FEV1, assessment test score, smaller cross-sectional area muscles (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 3.21 [1.30-7.89]). could reflect shorten