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. 2022 Nov 17;9:994499. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.994499

TABLE 4.

Univariate and multivariate associations between low muscle quantity (low L3-SMI) and low muscle quality (low L3-SMD or high L3-IMAT) and OS, PFS, or CSS.

Univariate analyses Multivariate analyses (Adjusted by age, sex, stage, diabetes, BMI, and previous weight loss)


HR 95% CI P-value HR 95% CI P-value
Overall survival
Low L3-SMD (Martin)a 2.12 1.41–3.19 < 0.001 1.88 1.09–3.23 0.022
Low L3-SMI (Martin)a 1.19 0.74–1.93 0.47 0.86 0.50–1.47 0.574
High L3-IMAT (cut-point)b 2.62 1.71–4.03 < 0.001 2.04 1.27–3.27 0.003
Progression free survival
Low L3-SMD (Martin)a 2.37 1.64–3.43 < 0.001 2.26 1.39–3.66 0.001
Low L3-SMI (Martin)a 1.18 0.78–1.81 0.45 0.84 0.51–1.36 0.469
High L3-IMAT (cut-point)b 2.34 1.60–3.42 < 0.001 1.97 1.30–2.97 0.001
Cancer-specific survival
Low L3-SMD (Martin)a 2.46 1.53–3.96 < 0.001 2.40 1.28–4.51 0.006
Low L3-SMI (Martin)a 1.25 0.72–2.16 0.43 0.94 0.51–1.74 0.854
High L3-IMAT (cut-point)b 2.56 1.56–4.23 < 0.001 1.81 1.04–3.13 0.034

Multivariate associations were adjusted by age, sex, HNC stage (III and IV vs. I and II), diabetes, BMI, and previous weight loss. HR, Hazard Ratio; CI, confidence interval; L3, third lumbar vertebrae; SMD, skeletal muscle density; SMI, skeletal muscle index; IMAT, intermuscular adipose tissue; PT, proximal thigh.

aCut-offs according to Martin et al. (11).

bCut-offs according to cut-point analysis on our population.