Body Muscle Mass Metabolic Data Analysis in Association with Crohn's Disease Activity

Malnutrition is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD) patients and it is correlated with alterations of the body composition and disease activity. Our prospective pilot study included hospitalised CD patients, age ≥ 18 years. Patients were assessed using the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS2002), the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and body bioelectrical impedance analysis. Twenty-three hospitalised patients (median age 36.5, interquartile range (IQR): 28.5-51.5 years) were enrolled; the median CD activity index was 128 (IQR = 6.0-207.0). The study group comprised 48% (n = 11) patients with low CD activity and 52% (n = 12) with high disease activity. According to NRS2002 and MUST, 70% (n = 16) CD patients had malnutrition risk and were in need of nutritional support. The median BMI was lower for the CD group (21.10 [IQR = 19.2-23.3]) than for the control group (23.4 [IQR = 21.5-25.8]) (p = 0.014). In terms of deviation from standard weight, 39% (n = 9) of CD patients showed reduced % body fat. Reduced muscle mass was observed in 48% (n = 11) of CD patients. CD patients with high disease activity had a noticeably increased risk of malnutrition. Identification of the reduction in soft lean muscle mass in CD patients can be used as an anticipatory indicator of disease activity.