Impact of sarcopenia in aortoiliac occlusive disease in Mediterranean population

BACKGROUND: This study aims to validate the psoas muscle area and psoas muscle density as morphometric predictors in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular endpoints in patients with extensive aortoiliac peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: A total of 57 patients (55 males, 2 females; mean age 60±8.2 years; range, 35 to 83 years) with Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus type D lesions who underwent revascularization at two Portuguese tertiary hospitals between January 2013 and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with a recent (<6 months) computed tomography scan prior to the revascularization procedure were included in the study. Both centers offered to their patients open and endovascular repair of aortoiliac peripheral arterial disease. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and major adverse limb events were evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 20 months. The mean survival rate was 93±3.4% at 30 days and 62.7±8.6% at 48 months. The discriminative thresholds found in this population were 2,175.8 mm2 for total psoas area and 51.75 Hounsfield unit for psoas muscle density. There was a statistically significant difference in the one-year survival rate (p=0.003 and p=0.291, respectively) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (p=0.005 and p=0.206, respectively) for total psoas area compared to psoas muscle density. CONCLUSION: Total psoas area shows a prognostic value for survival and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in this patient population.