• Dae-Woong Ham, Jeuk Lee, GilWon Choi, Byung-Taek Kwon, and Kwang-Sup Song.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Dongjak-gu, Heukseok-ro 102, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Eur Spine J. 2024 Oct 1; 33 (10): 385738643857-3864.

PurposeThis study examined the predictive value of the gluteal muscle index (GMI) for diagnosing sarcopenia in patients with degenerative lumbar disease (DLD), highlighting the need for effective diagnostic markers in this population.MethodsThis prospective observational study included 202 elderly patients scheduled for lumbar spine surgery. Muscle indices for psoas, paraspinal, and gluteal muscles were measured using multiaxial computed tomography. Sarcopenia was diagnosed per the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. Statistical analysis comprised univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of sarcopenia.ResultsOf patients, 77% were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The GMI and psoas muscle index (PMI) were identified as significant predictors of sarcopenia in the univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis confirmed their predictive value, with higher indices correlating with a reduced risk of sarcopenia (GMI odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92-0.97; PMI OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.98, both P < .001).ConclusionThe GMI serves as a reliable predictor of sarcopenia in elderly patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery for DLD, suggesting a significant role of gluteal muscles in diagnosing sarcopenia. Incorporating GMI into clinical assessments is critical to better manage and diagnose sarcopenia in this population.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

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