Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis and Pre-existing Sarcopenia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Critically ill patients with sepsis account for significant disease morbidity and healthcare costs. Sarcopenia has been proposed as an independent risk factor for poor short-term outcomes, although its effect on long-term outcomes remains unclear. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated at a tertiary care medical center over 6 years (09/2014 - 12/2020). Critically ill patients meeting Sepsis-3 criteria were included, with sarcopenia defined by skeletal muscle index at the L3 lumbar area on abdominal Computed-Tomography scan. The prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with clinical outcomes was analyzed. Results Sarcopenia was present in 34 (23%) of 150 patients, with median skeletal muscle indices of 28.1 cm 2 /m 2 and 37.3 cm 2 /m 2 in sarcopenic females and males, respectively. In-hospital mortality was not associated with sarcopenia when adjusted for age and illness severity. One year mortality was increased in sarcopenic patients, after adjustment for illness severity (HR 1.9, p = 0.02) and age (HR 2.4, p = 0.001). However, it was not associated with increased likelihood for discharge to long-term rehabilitation or hospice care in adjusted analyses. Conclusion Sarcopenia independently predicts one year mortality but is not associated with unfavorable hospital discharge disposition in critically ill patients with sepsis.