Association between temporalis and masseter muscle thickness and dysphagia in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Journal
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience
Journal Volume
141
Start Page
111598
ISSN
0967-5868
Date Issued
2025-11
Author(s)
Hsu, Ya-Chu
Lai, Ting-Ju
Lu, You-Lin
Chen, Hsing-Yu
Tsai, Hsiao-Ting
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the association between masticatory muscle thickness and dysphagia in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients. This retrospective cohort study included patients with spontaneous ICH confirmed by brain computed tomography (CT) between June 2019 and June 2024 in a university-affiliated hospital. Temporal muscle thickness (TMT) and masseter muscle thickness (MMT) were measured on the initial brain CT. Dysphagia outcomes were assessed using NG tube retention and the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-ICH. Linear regression analyzed relationships between clinicodemographic factors, comorbidities, and TMT/MMT, while logistic regression assessed associations between TMT/MMT and dysphagia outcomes, adjusting for identified variables. A total of 412 patients (61.2 % male, mean age 63.5 years) were included in the study. The mean TMT and MMT were 5.78 ± 1.54 mm and 13.51 ± 2.67 mm, respectively. Younger age, male gender, and higher body mass index were associated with increased TMT, while similar factors, along with premorbid modified Rankin scale, were linked to higher MMT. Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between TMT and FOIS scores at 1 and 4 weeks post-ICH, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 0.54 (95 % CI 0.35-0.85) and 0.41 (95 % CI 0.2-0.82), respectively. TMT was also significantly associated with NG tube retention at 1 and 4 weeks, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 0.54 (95 % CI 0.35-0.85) and 0.1 (95 % CI 0.01-0.99), respectively. No significant relationships were observed between MMT and dysphagia outcomes. TMT may serve as a preliminary predictor of functional oral intake impairment in post-ICH population requiring prospective validation.
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article