Sarcopenia and Mechanical Ventilation in Older Patients Admitted Due to COVID-19

Sarcopenia and Mechanical Ventilation in Older Patient Admitted With COVID-19 Infection

The SarcoV study aims at assessing the association between sarcopenia and the indication of mechanical ventilation in older hospitalized patients due to COVID-19 infection

Sarcopenia is disease associated with poor clinical outcomes. In critical ill chirurgical patients, sarcopenia is associated with difficult to wean of mechanical ventilation. The association between sarcopenia and mechanical ventilation is poorly studied in medical patients. COVID-19 pandemic has led a lot of medical patient to be admitted in intensive care units due to acute respiratory failure with need of mechanical ventilation support.

The primary objective is to determine if sarcopenia in critically-ill older patients with COVID-19 is associated with the indication of mechanical ventilation. Secondarily, the study aims at determining if sarcopenia is associated with difficult to wean and mortality in critically-ill older patients with COVID-19.

Inclusion criteria

• Consecutive patients aged 60 and older
• Admission in an acute care unit in Brugmann university hospital due to a COVID-19 possible or confirmed infection. A infection was considered confirmed in presence of a positive molecular test by Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR), following the Belgian Public Health Department recommendations (Sciensano recommendations).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients unable to perform a grip-strength measurement due to any rheumatological or neurological condition.