A retrospective study published in Minerva Anestesiologica examined the prognostic value of pectoralis muscle area (PMA) in 119 COPD patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized with pneumonia. PMA was measured from admission chest CT scans and evaluated as an objective marker of structural physiological reserve and frailty. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 40.3%. Non-survivors had significantly lower PMA than survivors (16.7 vs.
22.8 cm²; P<0.001). After adjustment for APACHE II scores, organ support requirements, and other clinical factors, PMA remained an independent predictor of mortality (HR 0.93 per 1 cm² increase; P=0.017). Researchers estimated that a 3–10 cm² increase in PMA corresponded to a 20–52% reduction in mortality risk. A linear inverse relationship between PMA and mortality risk was observed, while ROC analysis identified a cutoff of ≤21.24 cm² (AUC…
