Heart failure was associated with altered thigh-muscle structure and metabolism
Heart failure was linked to fewer capillaries per muscle fiber and altered fiber composition; absolute fiber areas were reported as similar.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found differences in the composition, blood-vessel supply and metabolic markers of thigh muscle in people with heart failure. However, absolute muscle fiber areas were described as similar between groups. These tissue measurements characterize an association with heart failure; they do not establish its cause or show that a particular treatment improves physical function.
This abstract-based summary concerns cross-sectional tissue differences, so it cannot establish which changes came first. The abstract reports no intervention results or measures of participants' physical function.
What researchers found
Capillaries per muscle fiber
Heart failure versus healthy controls; cross-sectional measurements, timing unreported. Negative values indicate fewer capillaries per fiber.
Absolute area and relative composition
Absolute fiber area and each fiber type's relative share of muscle are different measurements. The review reported altered relative fiber composition alongside similar absolute areas, so these findings should not be treated as interchangeable.
Metabolism was also measured
Several enzymes involved in muscle energy metabolism were lower in heart failure samples. Markers related to muscle growth and breakdown also differed. These laboratory findings do not directly quantify walking ability, symptoms or quality of life.
The original publication
Skeletal muscle morphology and metabolism in patients with heart failure compared to healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Prokopidis K, McCluskey M, Schmid V et al.
J Appl Physiol (1985) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41665168
- Record checked
Linked publication notices
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.