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COVID-19

COVID-19 Mortality Predicted by Pectoralis Muscle Density in Hospitalized Patients

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by a multicenter team from the Ruhr-University Bochum has identified a strong association between low pectoralis muscle density and 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The study, published in the journal Academic Radiology, analyzed the CT scans of 1379 patients and found that low pectoralis muscle density was a strong and independent predictor of mortality. This association was particularly pronounced in male patients under 60 years of age.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed the CT scans of 1379 patients with COVID-19, of which 28.2% were women and 71.8% were men.
  • Low pectoralis muscle density was a strong and independent predictor of 30-day mortality, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.97 (95%-CI: 1.52-5.80, p = 0.001).
  • In male patients under 60 years of age, low pectoralis muscle density was strongly associated with 30-day mortality, with an HR of 2.72 (95%-CI: 1.17-6.30, p = 0.019).
  • In female patients, the analyzed pectoralis muscle parameters did not predict 30-day mortality.
  • The study concluded that low pectoralis muscle density can be used for risk stratification in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • 1379 patients were included in the study, with 389 (28.2%) women and 990 (71.8%) men.
  • The 30-day mortality rate was 17.9%.
  • Low pectoralis muscle density was a strong predictor of mortality, with an HR of 2.97 (95%-CI: 1.52-5.80, p = 0.001).
  • In male patients under 60 years of age, low pectoralis muscle density was associated with an HR of 2.72 (95%-CI: 1.17-6.30, p = 0.019).
  • The study was a part of the German multicenter project RACOON (Radiological Cooperative Network of the COVID-19 pandemic).

Sources:

  • Academic Radiology (2025); 32(4):2133-2140.
  • Ruhr-University Bochum, Inst Radiol Neuroradiol & Nucl Med Minden, Bochum, Germany.
  • Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA (www.elsevier.com; www.journals.elsevier.com/academic-radiology/).

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