The impact of sarcopenia on the outcomes of cardiac and aortic surgery

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16598
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cardiovascular surgery
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: OKAMURA Homare 自治医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (70438646)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: サルコペニア / 心臓 / 大血管 / 脆弱性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The current risk assessment for cardiovascular surgery is centered on age and the presence or absence of underlying disease. In recent years, it has been noted that age-related weakness and sarcopenia (loss of muscle volume and strength) affect the outcomes after cardiovascular surgery. However, sarcopenia is not included in the usual surgical risk assessment, and its impact on the long-term prognosis after surgery has not been clarified. In this study, I aimed at clarifying the effect of preoperative sarcopenia on the outcomes of cardiac and aortic surgery, and the following results were obtained.
(1) The presence of sarcopenia was diagnosed by measuring the psoas muscle area at preoperative CT. It was shown that the postoperative late survival was significantly worse in patients with sarcopenia.
(2) Preoperative malnutrition and frailty affected the progress of postoperative rehabilitation.

Free Research Field

心臓血管外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

年齢や既往歴だけではなく、サルコペニアを含めた全身の脆弱性を心臓血管術前のリスク評価に加えることで、より正確な手術リスク評価ができる可能性が示唆された。現在の心臓血管手術では複数の治療選択肢があり、個々の患者にあった治療法の選択が重要である。サルコペニアの評価を加えることで、手術直後の成績だけでなく長期予後を予測することが可能になれば、最適な治療を提供することが可能になる。