INTRODUCTION: We evaluated clinical and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) parameters at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and associated these parameters with survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients were enrolled and were evaluated prospectively every 3 months. All patients underwent at least 1 BIA-based assessment, and 73 underwent at least 2 assessments. Data regarding the site of onset, age at onset, weight, body mass index (BMI), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale score (ALSFRS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and phase angle (PA) were collected. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, weight loss exceeding 5% of the premorbid weight and low PA were poor prognostic factors. During follow-up, a decrease of PA and FFM were associated with shorter survival, regardless of weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that BIA is useful to identify poor prognostic factors at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and thus could be used to monitor patients during follow-up. Early identification of poor prognostic factors enables nutritional management and might improve patient survival.
INTRODUCTION: We evaluated clinical and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) parameters at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and associated these parameters with survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients were enrolled and were evaluated prospectively every 3 months. All patients underwent at least 1 BIA-based assessment, and 73 underwent at least 2 assessments. Data regarding the site of onset, age at onset, weight, body mass index (BMI), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale score (ALSFRS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and phase angle (PA) were collected. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, weight loss exceeding 5% of the premorbid weight and low PA were poor prognostic factors. During follow-up, a decrease of PA and FFM were associated with shorter survival, regardless of weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that BIA is useful to identify poor prognostic factors at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and thus could be used to monitor patients during follow-up. Early identification of poor prognostic factors enables nutritional management and might improve patient survival.
Authors: Mariana Dantas de Carvalho Vilar; Karla Monica Dantas Coutinho; Sancha Helena de Lima Vale; Gidyenne Christine Bandeira Silva Medeiros; Grasiela Piuvezam; Lucia Leite-Lais; Jose Brandao-Neto Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-08-25 Impact factor: 3.006