One of the methods used by physicians to estimate body fat in patients is the body mass index (BMI). Another form of fat accumulation is myosteatosis, which occurs when fat accumulates in the muscles. For this reason, Dr Nachit and colleagues sought to identify the association between myosteatosis and mortality risk, while simultaneously studying visceral fat, liver steatosis, myopenia (muscle wasting) and obesity. The absolute mortality risk at 10 years in individuals with myosteatosis was 15.5% compared to obesity (7.6%), liver steatosis (8.5%) or myopenia (9.7%). While the presence of other health factors, such as visceral fat and liver steatosis, was also associated with a higher mortality risk, myosteatosis remained the highest.
