Correlation of Pectoralis Muscle Volume and Density with Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia in Adults

Rationale and Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether there is any correlation between a histogram analysis of the pectoralis muscle derived from chest computed tomography (CT) and the mortality rate for COVID-19 pneumonia in the adult population.Method: Chest CT derived measurements were evaluated retrospectively for 217 patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. Using a CT histogram analysis, we measured pectoralis muscle volume (PV) and pectoralis muscle density (PD). Patients were divided into groups first according to gender and then subgroups, which are age and outcome.Results: The COVID-19 diagnoses were confirmed by RT-PCR testing, chest CT and clinical findings in 217 patients (108 men, 109 women), aged 21-92 years (mean 61 years). PD measurements were lower in the exitus group (p = 0.001) and in patients aged >= 65 than in those aged <65 years (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between PD measurements of outpatient and inpatient under 65 years age (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between fatty volume measurements according to the exitus status of cases (p < 0.05).Conclusion: CT-derived measurements of the pectoralis muscle can be useful in predicting disease severity and mortality rate of COVID-19 pneumonia in adult patients.