Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42654256›Full record

Observational studyNutrients2026

Artificial Intelligence-Based Muscle Ultrasound: A Novel Approach to Nutritional Evaluation Beyond Quantity in Neurological Patients.

Juan José López-Gómez, Lucía Estévez-Asensio, Elena Santos-Pascual, Olatz Izaola-Jauregui, Paloma Pérez López, Ángela Cebriá, Beatriz Ramos-Bachiller, Eva López-Andrés, Mario Alfredo Vasquez-Saavedra, David Primo-Martín and 3 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Juan José López-GómezServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-3144-343X
Lucía Estévez-AsensioServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Elena Santos-PascualDAWAKO Medtech SL, Parc Cientific de la Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain.
Olatz Izaola-JaureguiServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Paloma Pérez LópezServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Ángela CebriáTécnicas Avanzadas de Desarrollo de Software Centrado en la Persona, Departamento de Informática, Universitat de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
Beatriz Ramos-BachillerServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Eva López-AndrésServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Mario Alfredo Vasquez-SaavedraServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.ORCID 0009-0001-9985-5038
David Primo-MartínServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-3474-0766
Daniel Rico-BarguesCentro de Investigación en Endocrinología y Nutrición, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0755-3033
Eduardo Jorge GodoyDAWAKO Medtech SL, Parc Cientific de la Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-5625-2846
Daniel A de Luis-RománServicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-1745-9315

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeurological disease may lead to malnutrition through disease-related complications, underscoring the need for accurate muscle assessment. This study aims to evaluate an AI-based tool for quantifying and characterizing muscle ultrasound images, comparing its performance with the usual techniques of muscle mass and function.

methodsThis was a prospective, open-label, longitudinal observational study of 117 adults with neurological disorders at high nutritional risk, designed to evaluate nutritional status and clinical evolution. The clinical assessment integrated anthropometry, bioelectrical impedanciometry, handgrip strength, dysphagia testing, and rectus femoris quadriceps ultrasound. Ultrasound images were evaluated through an AI-based platform to extract muscle quantity (rectus femoris muscle area (RFMA) and rectus femoris muscle thickness (RFMT) and quality biomarkers (percentage of low-echogenicity areas (Mi), interpreted as muscle; percentage of medium-echogenicity areas (FATi), interpreted as intramuscular fat). Patients were followed for two years to record mortality.

resultsThe sample included 117 adults with neurological disorders (52.1% women), with a mean age of 63.01 (16.14) years. A total of 77 patients (65.8%) had a condition with direct neuromuscular involvement. According to Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, 73 patients (62.4%) had malnutrition, while 30 patients (25.6%) had severe malnutrition. There were no differences in muscle mass parameters, but patients with neuromuscular involvement (NM) had lower values of percentage of Mi (NM: 42.44 (9.09%) vs. 47.36 (7.74)%;

conclusionsPatients with neuromuscular disorders showed a markedly lower proportion of Mi and a higher presence of FATi compared to those with non-neuromuscular conditions. Mortality was associated with greater FATi on AI-based ultrasound analysis. These findings suggest AI-enhanced imaging captures clinically relevant tissue alterations with potential prognostic value; however, given the observational data and heterogeneity of neurological conditions, these implications should be interpreted cautiously.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceMalnutritionMuscle, SkeletalNervous System DiseasesNutritional StatusNutrition AssessmentQuadriceps MuscleAgedFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesUltrasonographyartificial intelligencedisease-related malnutritionmuscle ultrasoundneuromuscular diseasesarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID42654256
PMCPMC13516382

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.