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Value of conventional ultrasound and shear wave elastography in the assessment of muscle mass and function in elderly people with type 2 diabetes

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
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A Correction to this article was published on 12 April 2023

This article has been updated

Abstract

Objectives

We assessed muscle mass and function using ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

There were 84 patients with type 2 diabetes enrolled in this study; of these, 30 had sarcopenia and 54 did not. We measured appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), handgrip strength, calf circumference, 6-m walking speed, and 5-time chair stand test. All patients were in the supine position with their knees in straight and bent poses in turn. The US-derived thickness (Tstraight, Tbent), cross-sectional area (CSAstraight, CSAbent), and SWE (SWEstraight, SWEbent) of the rectus femoris muscle (RFM) were measured and the differences (ΔT, ΔCSA, ΔSWE) were calculated. We assessed the correlations of clinical indicators with US and SWE features. We then compared the clinical indicators and US and SWE features between patients with and without sarcopenia to determine independent predictors. Diagnostic models were established based on these independent predictors.

Results

The ASMI was correlated with Tbent (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and CSAbent (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). Handgrip strength was correlated with Tbent (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) and CSAbent (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Between patients with and without sarcopenia, the indicators of age, ΔCSA, and ΔSWE were statically different (all p ≤ 0.001). Based on these results, a diagnostic model for sarcopenia was established with 83.3% sensitivity, 83.3% specificity, and 83.3% accuracy.

Conclusions

In elderly people with type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia patients had smaller muscle CSA and less stiffness than non-sarcopenia patients. US and SWE might be useful to screen them.

Key Points

• Sarcopenia is common in elderly people with type 2 diabetes.

• Ultrasound and shear wave elastography might be useful methods for quantitatively assessing muscle mass and strength.

• Ultrasound and shear wave elastography might be useful methods for screening sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

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Abbreviations

ASMI:

Appendicular skeletal muscle index

BMI:

Body mass index

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

CSAbent :

The cross-sectional area of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the bent pose

CSAstraight :

The cross-sectional area of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the straight pose

RFM:

Rectus femoris muscle

SWE:

Shear wave elastography

SWEbent :

The mean value of shear wave elastography of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the bent pose

SWEstraight :

The mean value of shear wave elastography of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the straight pose

T:

Thickness

Tbent :

The thickness of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the bent pose

Tstraight :

The thickness of the mid-portion of rectus femoris muscle when patients were in the supine position with their knees in the straight pose

US:

Ultrasound

ΔCSA:

The difference between CSAbent and CSAstraight

ΔSWE:

The difference between SWEbent and SWEbent

ΔT:

The difference between Tbent and Tstraight

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Funding

This study has received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Numbers: 82151318, 81927801, 82072092, 81901753, 82001816; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Grant/Award Number: 22120190213; Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Grant/Award Numbers: 2019LJ21, SHSLCZDZK03502; Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Grant/Award Numbers: 19441903200, 19DZ2251100.

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Author notes

  1. Zi-Tong Chen and Feng-Shan Jin contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Minimally Invasive Treatment for Tumor, Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Zi-Tong Chen, Feng-Shan Jin, Le-Hang Guo, Qiao Wang, Hui Zhao & Li-Ping Sun

  2. Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Zi-Tong Chen, Feng-Shan Jin, Le-Hang Guo, Qiao Wang, Hui Zhao & Li-Ping Sun

  3. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment, Shanghai, China

    Zi-Tong Chen, Feng-Shan Jin, Le-Hang Guo, Qiao Wang, Hui Zhao & Li-Ping Sun

  4. National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Zi-Tong Chen, Feng-Shan Jin, Le-Hang Guo, Qiao Wang, Hui Zhao & Li-Ping Sun

  5. Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Xiao-Long Li & Hui-Xiong Xu

Authors
  1. Zi-Tong Chen
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Le-Hang Guo or Hui-Xiong Xu.

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The scientific guarantor of this publication is Le-Hang Guo.

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The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and Biometry

No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

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Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

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Chen, ZT., Jin, FS., Guo, LH. et al. Value of conventional ultrasound and shear wave elastography in the assessment of muscle mass and function in elderly people with type 2 diabetes. Eur Radiol 33, 4007–4015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-09382-2

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