Analysis of the Impact of Muscle Mass Changes in Stroke Patients

Stroke has become an increasingly prevalent health issue every year. Malnutrition is one of the complications that arise in post-stroke patients. Reduced physical activity, intake disturbances, and comorbidities experienced by stroke patients can trigger malnutrition. Additionally, factors such as age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), and stroke type accelerate the onset of malnutrition. One of the signs of malnutrition in stroke patients is a change in body composition, characterized by muscle mass loss due to inflammatory responses and catabolic reactions, which lead to increased caloric needs in stroke patients. This study aims to investigate the changes in muscle mass in stroke patients at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. This is an observational study with a cross sectional design conducted at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital from November 2023 to April 2024. The sample size was 49 patients diagnosed with stroke, receiving medical care on the first day at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital. This study evaluates factors such as age, sex, stroke type, BMI, smoking habits, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension, kidney disorders, and respiratory diseases, in relation to changes in fat-free mass, fat mass, visceral fat, and phase angle, to assess the correlation with muscle mass changes. Data analysis will be approached using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Square (PLS). The results show that various risk factors affect body composition changes, contributing to muscle mass changes by up to 84.1%. In conclusion, the decline in muscle mass in stroke patients is influenced by various factors, in addition to reductions in visceral fat and phase angle, which indicate a tendency toward malnutrition risk.