Muscle Mass as a Biomarker for Health Status and Function in Pediatric Individuals with Neuromuscular Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review aims to investigate the relationship between muscle mass and specific health outcomes in pediatric populations with neuromuscular disorders. A search was performed for any relevant studies published in English from 1996 to 2023 in five databases. To be included in this analysis, articles must have had participants with an average age ≤21, focus on children with neuromuscular disabilities, and primarily examine relationships between muscle mass and any functional or health outcomes measure. Studies including typically developing children were used to contrast and enhance findings. Thirty-two studies were included, with 10,129 unique individuals represented: seventeen studies focused on healthy/typically developing children; seven on children with cerebral palsy; three on children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; two on children with sarcopenia; and one study each on children with osteoporosis, congenital muscular dystrophy, and other various neurologic disorders. Thirteen studies assessed functional outcomes, ten assessed bone outcomes, and nine assessed other cardiovascular/metabolic outcomes. All of the included studies demonstrated relationships between muscle mass and respective outcomes in varying measures. The results of this review demonstrate that there is a consistently recognized relationship between muscle mass and important health outcomes in children, supporting clinically targeting muscle mass as a means to optimize desired outcomes.