Body Composition Study in Critically Ill Patients-Extended to COVID-19

Body Composition Study in Critically Ill Patients-Extended to COVID-19

Muscle loss (ultrasound quadricep muscle) and muscle strength (handgrip and knee extension strength) will be compared between COVID-19 and non COVID-19 critically ill patients.

Given the heightened inflammatory status among COVID-19 critically ill patients, we hypothesized that the rate of skeletal muscle loss is accelerated in this population, and this loss is even more pronounce than the general critically ill patients. We further hypothesized that the increased muscle loss will lead to worse functional outcome (lower muscle strength) in COVID-19 critically ill patients compared with age- and sex-matched non-COVID-19 critically ill patients, as it has been shown that quadriceps thickness is strongly correlated with functional status at ICU discharge. Furthermore, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis in survivors of coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS or Middle-east respiratory syndrome, MERS, or COVID-19) also demonstrated reduced exercise capacity and quality of life at 6 months after hospitalization or ICU admission

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years old
• Admitted into the ICU due to COVID-19

Exclusion Criteria:

• Likely to transfer out from the ICU in 24 hours from screening
• Likely to die in the next 7 days
• Bedbound prior to hospital admission or bedbound in the hospital for >10 days