CT-Determined Sarcopenia and Mortality in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

NCT07761481 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: CEI2026-07/30/V1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the association between computed tomography-determined sarcopenia and muscle quality impairment with 28-day mortality in adult patients (aged 18 and older) with solid or hematologic malignancies admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The main question it aims to answer is: Is lower psoas muscle quality, calculated using the Hounsfield Unit Average Calculation (HUAC), associated with increased 28-day mortality in critically ill cancer patients? Researchers will compare patients who survived at 28 days with those who died to evaluate whether tomographic muscle measurements (HUAC and total psoas area) and clinical nutritional scores (mNUTRIC) differ between groups and predict mortality. Participants' records will be evaluated through:

• A retrospective review of electronic medical records to collect demographic, clinical, oncologic, laboratory, and disease severity scores (APACHE II, SOFA, mNUTRIC).
• Quantitative tomographic assessment of the right and left psoas muscle area and radiation attenuation density (in Hounsfield Units) using existing computed tomography (CT) scans performed during routine clinical care.
• Follow-up of 28-day vital status (alive or deceased) after ICU admission.

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Cancer; Critical Illness; Malnutrition

Keywords

Sarcopenia; Critically ill cancer patient; Computed tomography; Mortality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 28-Day All-Cause Mortality

  Vital status (alive or deceased) of critically ill cancer patients evaluated at 28 days following their admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The association with muscle quality metrics, specifically the Hounsfield Unit Average Calculation (HUAC) of the psoas muscles obtained via computed tomography (CT) scan, will be assessed.

  At 28 days post-ICU admission

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Nutritional Risk Assessment via mNUTRIC Score

  Baseline (at ICU admission)

• Total Psoas Muscle Cross-Sectional Area

  Baseline (CT scans performed within routine care prior to or at ICU admission)

• Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) Score

  At ICU admission (Baseline)

• Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score

  Baseline (at ICU admission)

Study Arms (2)

Survivors

Critically ill cancer patients admitted to the ICU who survived at 28 days post-admission.

Other: Computed Tomography Muscle Assessment (HUAC)

Non survivors

Critically ill cancer patients admitted to the ICU who died within 28 days post-admission

Other: Computed Tomography Muscle Assessment (HUAC)

Interventions

Computed Tomography Muscle Assessment (HUAC) OTHER

Quantitative measurement of cross-sectional area and radiological density (Hounsfield Units) of the bilateral psoas muscles on abdominal CT scans obtained during routine care to calculate the Hounsfield Unit Average Calculation (HUAC).

Non survivors; Survivors

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Critically ill adult cancer patients (with solid or hematological malignancies) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Hospital H+ Querétaro between January 2022 and December 2025 who underwent abdominal CT scans during routine clinical management

You may qualify if:

• Adult patients aged 18 years or older.
• Confirmed diagnosis of solid or hematological malignancy.
• Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025.
• Availability of an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan performed during routine clinical care at the time of or prior to ICU admission.

You may not qualify if:

• Missing or incomplete clinical, laboratory, or outcome data in the electronic medical record.
• Non-evaluable abdominal CT scans due to motion artifacts, metal artifacts, or lack of cross-sectional visibility of the bilateral psoas muscles.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital H+ Queretaro: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hospital H+ Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro

Querétaro City, Querétaro, 76030, Mexico

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Neoplasms; Critical Illness; Malnutrition

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2026
• First Posted: August 12, 2026
• Study Start: July 10, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 5, 2026
• Study Completion: August 5, 2026
• Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

ME (1)