Psoas Muscle Volume Measurement as a Predictor of Clinical Risk in Fontan Circulation

Motivation: Reduced muscle mass is linked to adverse outcomes in patients with Fontan physiology. Psoas muscle volume measurement may enable more precise muscle mass assessment. Goal(s): To identify whether psoas muscle area or volume is a more accurate predictor of adverse outcomes in Fontan patients. Approach: Psoas muscle volume and area indexes, measured with abdominal MRI using the UTE sequence, were compared using logistic regression between patients with Fontan-associated complications and those with stable clinical progress. Results: In patients with Fontan circulation, psoas muscle volume measurements are strongly correlated with area measurements and might show a stronger association with adverse outcomes than area. Impact: The psoas muscle volume is a reproducible and easily obtained measurement using abdominal MRI, showing a strong correlation with the psoas muscle area. The psoas muscle volume could better correlate with these outcomes than the psoas muscle area.