Pectoralis Muscle Area as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with Bronchiectasis Exacerbation

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Data on factors related to mortality in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation are insufficient. Computed tomography (CT) can measure the pectoralis muscle area (PMA) and is a useful tool to diagnose sarcopenia. This study aimed to evaluate whether PMA can predict mortality in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients hospitalized due to bronchiectasis exacerbation at a single center were retrospectively divided into survivors and non-survivors based on 1-year mortality. Thereafter, a comparison of the clinical and radiologic characteristics was conducted between the two groups. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 66 (14%) patients died at 1 year. In the multivariate analysis, age, BMI &lt;18.4 kg/m², sex-specific PMA quartile, ≥3 exacerbations in the previous year, serum albumin &lt;3.5 g/dL, cystic bronchiectasis, tuberculosis-destroyed lung, and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors for the 1-year mortality in patients hospitalized with bronchiectasis exacerbation. A lower PMA was associated with a lower overall survival rate in the survival analysis according to sex-specific quartiles of PMA. PMA had the highest area under the curve during assessment of prognostic performance in predicting the 1-year mortality. The lowest sex-specific PMA quartile group exhibited higher disease severity than the highest quartile group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> CT-derived PMA was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality in patients hospitalized with bronchiectasis exacerbation. Patients with lower PMA exhibited higher disease severity. These findings suggest that PMA might be a useful marker for providing additional information regarding prognosis of patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation.