Research Article

The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients

Volume: 18 Number: 4 October 1, 2025
TR EN

The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between diaphragm and rectus abdominis (RA) muscle thickness and mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Materials and methods: A total of 87 adult ICU patients were included. Diaphragm and RA muscle thicknesses were measured via ultrasound on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and discharge days of ICU stay. Clinical data, including mechanical ventilation status, weaning outcome, infections, and the use of sedation, inotropes, and steroids, were recorded. Results: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was applied in 82.7% of patients. Weaning was successful in only 15.2% of IMV patients. On the discharge day, diaphragm and RA thicknesses were significantly lower in the IMV group than in the non-IMV group (p=0.029, p=0.004, respectively). RA thickness was significantly higher on day 1 in the successfully weaned group (p=0.03). Diaphragm thickness showed a weak positive correlation with BMI. A weak negative correlation was found between RA thickness and NUTRIC score. No correlation was observed between muscle thicknesses and age, APACHE-II or SOFA scores. Conclusion: Monitoring diaphragm and RA muscle thickness may guide the assessment of weaning and mortality risk in ICU patients. Particularly, RA thickness may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting weaning success.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

​Internal Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

August 20, 2025

Publication Date

October 1, 2025

Submission Date

July 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 18 Number: 4

APA
Akbudak, İ. H., Üyük, A., & Erdoğan, Ç. (2025). The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Pamukkale Medical Journal, 18(4), 877-885. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1747747
AMA
1.Akbudak İH, Üyük A, Erdoğan Ç. The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Pam Med J. 2025;18(4):877-885. doi:10.31362/patd.1747747
Chicago
Akbudak, İsmail Hakkı, Almıla Üyük, and Çağla Erdoğan. 2025. “The Role of Diaphragm and Rectus Abdominis Muscle Thickness in Predicting Mortality, Morbidity, and Weaning Success from Mechanical Ventilation in ICU Patients”. Pamukkale Medical Journal 18 (4): 877-85. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1747747.
EndNote
Akbudak İH, Üyük A, Erdoğan Ç (October 1, 2025) The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Pamukkale Medical Journal 18 4 877–885.
IEEE
[1]İ. H. Akbudak, A. Üyük, and Ç. Erdoğan, “The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients”, Pam Med J, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 877–885, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.31362/patd.1747747.
ISNAD
Akbudak, İsmail Hakkı - Üyük, Almıla - Erdoğan, Çağla. “The Role of Diaphragm and Rectus Abdominis Muscle Thickness in Predicting Mortality, Morbidity, and Weaning Success from Mechanical Ventilation in ICU Patients”. Pamukkale Medical Journal 18/4 (October 1, 2025): 877-885. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1747747.
JAMA
1.Akbudak İH, Üyük A, Erdoğan Ç. The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Pam Med J. 2025;18:877–885.
MLA
Akbudak, İsmail Hakkı, et al. “The Role of Diaphragm and Rectus Abdominis Muscle Thickness in Predicting Mortality, Morbidity, and Weaning Success from Mechanical Ventilation in ICU Patients”. Pamukkale Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 4, Oct. 2025, pp. 877-85, doi:10.31362/patd.1747747.
Vancouver
1.İsmail Hakkı Akbudak, Almıla Üyük, Çağla Erdoğan. The role of diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle thickness in predicting mortality, morbidity, and weaning success from mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Pam Med J. 2025 Oct. 1;18(4):877-85. doi:10.31362/patd.1747747

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