Objectives: The aim of the current study was to examine longitudinal changes in quadriceps muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue in chronic stroke survivors. Materials and Methods: In this longitudinal study included 34 chronic stroke survivors who lived in the community. Ultimately, 20 chronic stroke survivors received an after 3-year assessment. Fourteen chronic stroke survivors were lost at follow-up. Chronic stroke survivors who were followed and not followed during 3 years were categorized as follow-up group and lost follow-up group, respectively. The quadriceps muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue were assessed at baseline and after 3-year assessments based on muscle thickness and echo intensity in ultrasound images, respectively. Results: No significant differences in any characteristics were observed between the flow-up and lost follow-up groups. In the follow-up group, there was a significant decrease in quadriceps thickness on the paretic (10.3% decrease) and non-paretic (17.0% decrease) sides at follow-up after 3 years compared with baseline. There was a significant increase in quadriceps echo intensity on the paretic (20.0% increase) and non-paretic (24.9% increase) sides at follow-up after 3 years compared with baseline. There were significant positive relationships between changes in body weight and changes in quadriceps thickness on the paretic and non-paretic sides. Chronic stroke survivors with greater reductions in body weight showed a trend towards a greater decrease in quadriceps thickness on the paretic and non-paretic sides. Conclusions: The current results suggest marked longitudinal changes in the skeletal muscles in chronic stroke survivors. Preventing secondary changes in skeletal muscles and limiting decreases in body weight are essential for improving outcomes in chronic stroke survivors.

目的：本研究的目的是检查慢性卒中幸存者的股四头肌肌肉质量和肌内脂肪组织的纵向变化。材料和方法：在这项纵向研究中，包括34位居住在社区中的慢性中风幸存者。最终，对20名慢性中风幸存者进行了3年评估。随访中失去了14名慢性中风幸存者。在3年内被随访和未随访的慢性中风幸存者分别分为随访组和失访组。在基线时和三年评估后，分别根据超声图像中的肌肉厚度和回声强度评估股四头肌肌肉质量和肌内脂肪组织。结果：在随访组和失访组之间没有观察到任何特征上的显着差异。在随访组中，与基线相比，随访3年后，股四头肌的厚度（降低了10.3％）和非股骨的（未降低）了（17.0％）。与基线相比，三年后随访时，股四头肌回声强度显着增加（增加了20.0％），非股四头肌回声强度显着增加（了24.9％）。体重变化和股四头肌和非股四头肌的股四头肌厚度变化之间存在显着的正相关关系。体重减轻得更多的慢性中风幸存者表现出股四头肌和非股骨头四头肌厚度减小的趋势。结论：目前的结果表明，慢性中风幸存者的骨骼肌有明显的纵向变化。预防骨骼肌的继发性变化和限制体重的减少对于改善慢性卒中幸存者的预后至关重要。