The degree of recovery in swallowing ability in older inpatients with aspiration pneumonia is related to intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps than to muscle mass

BACKGROUND & AIM: A recent study reported that the increase in intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps in older inpatients is related to a decreasing degree of recovery in swallowing ability compared to the loss of muscle mass. However, whether the association remains true in case of aspiration pneumonia is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between the degree of recovery in swallowing ability and intramuscular adipose tissue in the quadriceps of older inpatients with aspiration pneumonia. METHODS: This prospective study included 39 older patients with aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing ability was assessed using the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS). The indicators for the degree of recovery in swallowing ability were FILS at discharge and change in FILS. A greater change in FILS indicates a greater improvement in swallowing ability. Intramuscular adipose tissue and muscle mass of the quadriceps were evaluated at admission using echo intensity and muscle thickness on ultrasound images, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether the echo intensity of the quadriceps was independently and significantly related to FILS at discharge and the change in FILS. Independent variables were age, sex, days from disease onset, echo intensity and muscle thickness of the quadriceps, subcutaneous fat thickness of the thigh, FILS at admission, and number of units of rehabilitation therapy. RESULTS: Echo intensity of the quadriceps (β = −0.363, p = 0.012) and FILS at admission (β = 0.556, p < 0.001) were independently and significantly associated with FILS at discharge (R(2) = 0.760, f(2) = 3.167, statistical power = 1.000). Similar variables (echo intensity of the quadriceps [β = −0.498, p = 0.012] and FILS at admission [β = −0.635, p < 0.001]) were independently and significantly related to change in FILS (R(2) = 0.547, f(2) = 1.208, statistical power = 0.998). Quadriceps muscle thickness was not independently and significantly related to FILS at discharge and change in FILS. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps in older inpatients with aspiration pneumonia is more strongly related to the degree of recovery in swallowing ability (that is, swallowing ability at discharge and change in swallowing ability) than muscle mass, and patients who have high intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps at admission have a lower degree of recovery in swallowing ability.