Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?

BACKGROUND:Muscle wasting in the critically ill is up to 2% per day and delays patient recovery and rehabilitation. It is linked to inflammation, organ failure and severity of illness. The aims of this study were to understand the relationship between muscle depth loss, and nutritional and inflammat...

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Main Authors: Liesl Wandrag, Stephen J Brett, Gary S Frost, Vasiliki Bountziouka, Mary Hickson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2019-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224565
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author Liesl Wandrag
Stephen J Brett
Gary S Frost
Vasiliki Bountziouka
Mary Hickson
author_facet Liesl Wandrag
Stephen J Brett
Gary S Frost
Vasiliki Bountziouka
Mary Hickson
author_sort Liesl Wandrag
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND:Muscle wasting in the critically ill is up to 2% per day and delays patient recovery and rehabilitation. It is linked to inflammation, organ failure and severity of illness. The aims of this study were to understand the relationship between muscle depth loss, and nutritional and inflammatory markers during prolonged critical illness. Secondly, to identify when during critical illness catabolism might decrease, such that targeted nutritional strategies may logically be initiated. METHODS:This study was conducted in adult intensive care units in two large teaching hospitals. Patients anticipated to be ventilated for >48 hours were included. Serum C-reactive protein (mg/L), urinary urea (mmol/24h), 3-methylhistidine (μmol/24h) and nitrogen balance (g/24h) were measured on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 of the study. Muscle depth (cm) on ultrasound were measured on the same days over the bicep (bicep and brachialis muscle), forearm (flexor compartment of muscle) and thigh (rectus femoris and vastus intermedius). RESULTS:Seventy-eight critically ill patients were included with mean age of 59 years (SD: 16) and median Intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay of 10 days (IQR: 6-16). Starting muscle depth, 8.5cm (SD: 3.2) to end muscle depth, 6.8cm (SD: 2.2) were on average significantly different over 14 days, with mean difference -1.67cm (95%CI: -2.3 to -1cm), p<0.0001. Protein breakdown and inflammation continued over 14 days of the study. CONCLUSION:Our patients demonstrated a continuous muscle depth loss and negative nitrogen balance over the 14 days of the study. Catabolism remained dominant throughout the study period. No obvious 'nutritional tipping point" to identify anabolism or recovery could be identified in our cohort. Our ICU patient cohort is one with a moderately prolonged stay. This group showed little consistency in data, reflecting the individuality of both disease and response. The data are consistent with a conclusion that a time based assumption of a tipping point does not exist. TRIAL REGISTRATION:International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: ISRCTN79066838. Registration 25 July 2012.
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spelling doaj.art-cf0242f2667d408396579c1955b4baa12022-12-21T19:18:28ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-011411e022456510.1371/journal.pone.0224565Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?Liesl WandragStephen J BrettGary S FrostVasiliki BountzioukaMary HicksonBACKGROUND:Muscle wasting in the critically ill is up to 2% per day and delays patient recovery and rehabilitation. It is linked to inflammation, organ failure and severity of illness. The aims of this study were to understand the relationship between muscle depth loss, and nutritional and inflammatory markers during prolonged critical illness. Secondly, to identify when during critical illness catabolism might decrease, such that targeted nutritional strategies may logically be initiated. METHODS:This study was conducted in adult intensive care units in two large teaching hospitals. Patients anticipated to be ventilated for >48 hours were included. Serum C-reactive protein (mg/L), urinary urea (mmol/24h), 3-methylhistidine (μmol/24h) and nitrogen balance (g/24h) were measured on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 of the study. Muscle depth (cm) on ultrasound were measured on the same days over the bicep (bicep and brachialis muscle), forearm (flexor compartment of muscle) and thigh (rectus femoris and vastus intermedius). RESULTS:Seventy-eight critically ill patients were included with mean age of 59 years (SD: 16) and median Intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay of 10 days (IQR: 6-16). Starting muscle depth, 8.5cm (SD: 3.2) to end muscle depth, 6.8cm (SD: 2.2) were on average significantly different over 14 days, with mean difference -1.67cm (95%CI: -2.3 to -1cm), p<0.0001. Protein breakdown and inflammation continued over 14 days of the study. CONCLUSION:Our patients demonstrated a continuous muscle depth loss and negative nitrogen balance over the 14 days of the study. Catabolism remained dominant throughout the study period. No obvious 'nutritional tipping point" to identify anabolism or recovery could be identified in our cohort. Our ICU patient cohort is one with a moderately prolonged stay. This group showed little consistency in data, reflecting the individuality of both disease and response. The data are consistent with a conclusion that a time based assumption of a tipping point does not exist. TRIAL REGISTRATION:International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: ISRCTN79066838. Registration 25 July 2012.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224565
spellingShingle Liesl Wandrag
Stephen J Brett
Gary S Frost
Vasiliki Bountziouka
Mary Hickson
Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
PLoS ONE
title Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
title_full Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
title_fullStr Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
title_short Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: Implications for intervention?
title_sort exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness implications for intervention
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224565
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