Study: Core muscle strength may be linked to a reduced risk of heart attacks - Sarmad

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom has shown that the quality and strength of chest and back muscles may serve as an important indicator of heart health. Higher muscle density in the trunk region was associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks and premature death, using artificial intelligence techniques to analyze medical imaging scans.

The British newspaper The Guardian reported that researchers used AI to analyze computed tomography (CT) scans of 1,722 patients, mostly in their fifties, who had undergone examinations due to chest pain. The results showed that individuals with denser and higher-quality chest and back muscles had lower rates of heart attacks or death during the ten years following the scan.

The researchers, in the study published in the journal Radiology, clarified that the analysis focused on the quality of skeletal muscles, not just their size. It was found that increased muscle density and lower fat content were linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, whereas muscle size alone did not show a clear association with lower risks.

The scientific team explained that AI techniques enabled the analysis of components in the upper body, including muscles, bones, fat, and organs, and allowed for the assessment of muscle quality through its apparent density in imaging scans, as higher-density muscles reflect a healthier composition.

Professor Michelle Williams, the study’s lead author, noted that these findings underscore the importance of maintaining trunk muscle strength, while emphasizing the need for further research to deepen the understanding of the relationship between physical exercise, muscle quality, and heart health.

In the future, these results could help leverage routine imaging scans to identify individuals at higher risk of heart disease, enabling early intervention through enhanced physical activity and medical follow-up.