The feasibility and reliability of measuring forearm muscle thickness by ultrasound in a geriatric inpatient setting : a cross-sectional pilot study
Meza-Valderrama, Delky (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Sánchez- Rodríguez, Dolores (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Perkisas, Stany (University of Antwerp)
Duran-Jordà, Xavier (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Bastijns, Sophie (Antwerp University. University Center of Geriatrics)
Dávalos-Yerovi, Vanesa (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Da Costa, Elizabeth (Parc de Salut MAR de Barcelona)
Marco, Ester (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Given the potential benefits of introducing ultrasound in the clinical assessment of muscle disorders, this study aimed to assess the feasibility and reliability of measuring forearm muscle thickness by ultrasound in a geriatric clinical setting. Cross-sectional pilot study in 25 participants (12 patients aged ≥ 70 years in an acute geriatric ward and 13 healthy volunteers aged 25-50 years), assessed by three raters. Muscle thickness measurement was estimated as the distance between the subcutaneous adipose tissue-muscle interface and muscle-bone interface of the radius at 30% proximal of the distance between the styloid process and distal insertion of the biceps brachii muscle of the dominant forearm. Examinations were repeated three times by each rater and intra- and inter-rater reliability was calculated. Feasibility analysis included consideration of technological, economic, legal, operational, and scheduling (TELOS) components. Mean muscle-thickness measurement difference between groups was 4. 4 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 2. 4 mm to 6. 3 mm], p < 0. 001). Intra-rater reliability of muscle-thickness assessment was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0. 947 (95%CI 0. 902 to 0. 974), 0. 969 (95%CI 0. 942 to 0. 985), and 0. 950 (95%CI 0. 907 to 0. 975) for observer A, B, and C, respectively. Inter-rater comparison showed good agreement (ICC of 0. 873 [95%CI 0. 73 to 0. 94]). Four of the 17 TELOS components considered led to specific recommendations to improve the procedure's feasibility in clinical practice. Our findings suggest that US is a feasible tool to assess the thickness of the forearm muscles with good inter-rater and excellent intra-rater reliability in a sample of hospitalized geriatric patients, making it a promising option for use in clinical practice.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Muscle ultrasound ; Forearm muscle thickness ; Intra-rater reliability ; Inter-rater reliability ; Ultrasound feasibility
Published in:	BMC geriatrics, Vol. 22 (february 2022) , ISSN 1471-2318

DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-02811-3
PMID: 35177006

9 p, 1.7 MB

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