Clinical Value of Muscle Mass Assessment in Clinical Conditions Associated with Malnutrition
Résumé
Malnutrition results from a reduction of food intake or an alteration of nutrient assimilation
and leads to decreased lean mass. Strong evidence shows that malnutrition associated with loss
of muscle mass negatively impacts clinical outcomes. The preservation or improvement of muscle
mass represents a challenge. This review aims to (1) describe current methods to assess muscle
mass in clinical practice, (2) describe the associations between muscle mass and clinical outcomes,
and (3) describe the impact of interventions aiming at increasing muscle mass on clinical outcomes.
It highlights the importance of assessing muscle mass as part of the screening and the follow-up of
malnutrition in clinical practice.
