2021 Volume 48 Issue 3 Pages 271-278
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the quadriceps and swallowing ability in elderly inpatients with pneumonia.
Methods: Forty-seven elderly inpatients with pneumonia were included. Swallowing ability was assessed using the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS). The echo intensities of the ultrasound images were used to assess the intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the quadriceps. The mean echo intensities of the right and left quadriceps were analyzed. A higher echo intensity indicated greater amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue. We used multiple regression analysis to identify the factors that were independently associated with FILS. Echo intensity and muscle thickness of the quadriceps, subcutaneous fat thickness of the thigh, age, sex, length of hospital stay, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) score, C-reactive protein level, updated Charlson comorbidity index score, and number of medications were independent variables.
Results: The echo intensity (standardized partial regression coefficient: –0.386; p = 0.034), GNRI (standardized partial regression coefficient: 0.529; p = 0.014), and subcutaneous fat thickness of the thigh (standardized partial regression coefficient: 0.339; p = 0.043) were significantly and independently associated with FILS (R2 = 0.484).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that the amount of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the quadriceps is more strongly related to swallowing ability than muscle mass in elderly inpatients with pneumonia.
