Muscle Mass Via UltraSound in Cirrhosis (MMUSCLE)

Prevalence of sarcopenia: muscle mass

Number of patients with prevalent sarcopenia. This will be assessed by skeletal muscle ultrasound (muscle thickness expressed in cm). Sarcopenia has been defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia as "a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures, disability, and mortality," combining both muscle mass and muscle strength or muscle performance in its definition. This first outcome measure defines muscle mass.

Time frame: baseline

Prevalence of sarcopenia: muscle strength

Number of patients with prevalent sarcopenia. This will be assessed by handgrip strength (expressed in kg). Sarcopenia has been defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia as "a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures, disability, and mortality," combining both muscle mass and muscle strength or muscle performance in its definition. As the definition contains both muscle mass and muscle strength, both factors have to be evaluated. This second outcome measure defines muscle strength.

Time frame: baseline

Development of sarcopenia: changes in muscle mass

Changes in muscle mass by ultrasound muscle parameters from baseline up to 2 years follow-up. We will evaluate the muscle parameters that define muscle mass: muscle thickness expressed in cm, cross sectional area in squared cm, pennation angle in degrees and echo intensity expressed in arbitrary units (A.U.)

Time frame: 2 years

Development of sarcopenia: changes in muscle strength

This will be assessed by handgrip strength (expressed in kg). Sarcopenia has been defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia as "a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures, disability, and mortality," combining both muscle mass and muscle strength or muscle performance in its definition. As the definition contains both muscle mass and muscle strength, both factors have to be evaluated.

Time frame: 2 years

Development of sarcopenia: changes in muscle quality

Changes in muscle mass by ultrasound muscle parameters from baseline up to 2 years follow-up. We will evaluate the muscle parameters that define quality of muscle: pennation angle in degrees and echo intensity expressed in arbitrary units (A.U.)

Time frame: 2 years