Muscle wasting in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the studies investigating co-morbidities aggravating heart failure (SICA-HF)

AIMS: To assess the prevalence and clinical impact of reductions in the skeletal muscle mass of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Chronic HF is accompanied by co-morbidities that influence the quality of life and outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled 200 patients with chronic HF. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass of the arms and the legs combined, was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. We analysed the muscle strength in arms and legs, and all patients underwent a 6-min walk test, a 4-m walk test, and spiroergometry testing. Muscle wasting was defined as the appendicular muscle mass 2 SD below the mean of a healthy reference group of adults aged 18-40 years, as…

• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 241558
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: SFB/TR 19