Mixed
Critically ill patients lose approximately 2% of skeletal muscle mass per day during the first week of ICU admission, with rectus femoris thickness decreasing by 1.75% and cross-sectional area by 2.10% daily.
If you or a loved one is in the ICU, expect rapid muscle loss (approx. 2% per day) starting immediately. This is driven by inflammation, immobility, and metabolic stress. While you cannot stop the illness, early mobilization (as tolerated) and adequate protein intake are critical to slowing this specific rate of tissue breakdown.
During the first week of critical illness, patients lost every day 1.75% (95% CI −2.05, −1.45) of their rectus femoris thickness or 2.10% (95% CI −3.17, −1.02) of rectus femoris cross-sectional area... On average, critically ill patients lose nearly 2% of skeletal muscle per day during the first week of ICU admission.
Why this rating
Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 studies involving 3,251 patients, though heterogeneity in measurement methods exists.
Source
The rate and assessment of muscle wasting during critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Brigitta Fazzini et al. · Critical Care · 2023
DOI 10.1186/s13054-022-04253-0
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