J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jnr.elmerpub.com

Short Communication

Volume 16, Number 4, December 2026, pages 263-269

Annual Body Mass Index Change and Mortality in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Tracheostomy Invasive Ventilation

↓ Figure 2. Distribution of annual BMI change in the survivor and non-survivor groups. (a) Scatter plot showing the relationship between BMI and annual BMI change (ΔBMI). The dashed line indicates ΔBMI = 2.5 kg/m²/year. (b) Distribution of ΔBMI in the survivor and non-survivor groups. (c) Distribution of the absolute annual BMI change (ABSΔBMI) in the survivor and non-survivor groups. Boxes indicate the interquartile range, horizontal lines indicate the median, and individual data points are shown for each patient. Open circles indicate the survivor group and filled triangles indicate the non-survivor group. BMI, body mass index; ΔBMI, annual change in body mass index; ABSΔBMI, absolute annual change in body mass index.

↓ **Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics of the Survivor and Non-Survivor Groups
Variables	Survivor group (n = 27)	Non-survivor group (n = 22)	P value
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%). Percentages were calculated within each group. The P value for site of onset was calculated after excluding patients with unknown onset site. Time since PEG insertion was calculated only for patients who had undergone PEG. P values were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. ALSFRS-R: ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised; PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; TIV: tracheostomy invasive ventilation.
Age, years	71.0 (66.5–75.0)	71.5 (67.3–77.3)	0.9193
Sex, n (%)			0.0078
Male	11 (40.7)	18 (81.8)
Female	16 (59.3)	4 (18.2)
Site of onset, n (%)			1.0000
Bulbar	1 (3.7)	1 (4.5)
Limb	12 (44.4)	10 (45.5)
Unknown	14 (51.9)	11 (50.0)
ALSFRS-R total score	2.0 (1.0–4.0)	2.5 (1.0–4.0)	0.7506
Disease duration, months	84.0 (53.8–113.5)	88.0 (65.0–120.0)	0.7949
Enteral feeding route, n (%)			1.0000
PEG	22 (81.5)	18 (81.8)
Nasogastric tube	5 (18.5)	4 (18.2)
Time since PEG insertion, months	42.5 (27.8–73.5)	55.5 (25.5–63.0)	0.9312
Time since TIV initiation, months	16.5 (16.0–19.0)	18.0 (14.0–22.0)	0.8246

↓ Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of the Survivor and Non-Survivor Groups

Variables

Survivor group (n = 27)

Non-survivor group (n = 22)

P value

Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%). Percentages were calculated within each group. The P value for site of onset was calculated after excluding patients with unknown onset site. Time since PEG insertion was calculated only for patients who had undergone PEG. P values were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. ALSFRS-R: ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised; PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; TIV: tracheostomy invasive ventilation.

Age, years

71.0 (66.5–75.0)

71.5 (67.3–77.3)

0.9193

Sex, n (%)

0.0078

Male

11 (40.7)

18 (81.8)

Female

16 (59.3)

4 (18.2)

Site of onset, n (%)

1.0000

Bulbar

1 (3.7)

1 (4.5)

Limb

12 (44.4)

10 (45.5)

Unknown

14 (51.9)

11 (50.0)

ALSFRS-R total score

2.0 (1.0–4.0)

2.5 (1.0–4.0)

0.7506

Disease duration, months

84.0 (53.8–113.5)

88.0 (65.0–120.0)

0.7949

Enteral feeding route, n (%)

1.0000

PEG

22 (81.5)

18 (81.8)

Nasogastric tube

5 (18.5)

4 (18.2)

Time since PEG insertion, months

42.5 (27.8–73.5)

55.5 (25.5–63.0)

0.9312

Time since TIV initiation, months

16.5 (16.0–19.0)

18.0 (14.0–22.0)

0.8246

↓ **Table 2.** Body Mass Index-Related Measures in the Survivor and Non-Survivor Groups
Variable	Survivor group (n = 27)	Non-survivor group (n = 22)	P value
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%). P values were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. BMI: body mass index; ΔBMI: annual change in body mass index; ABSΔBMI: absolute annual change in body mass index.
BMI, kg/m²	19.6 (18.6–22.2)	19.9 (19.1–22.6)	0.8813
ΔBMI, kg/m²/year	0.1 (-0.6–0.7)	0.9 (-0.8–3.3)	0.1352
ABSΔBMI, kg/m²/year	0.7 (0.4–1.2)	1.4 (0.9–3.5)	0.0003
ΔBMI ≥ 2.5 kg/m²/year, n (%)	0 (0.0)	7 (31.8)	0.0020

↓ Table 2. Body Mass Index-Related Measures in the Survivor and Non-Survivor Groups

Variable

Survivor group (n = 27)

Non-survivor group (n = 22)

P value

Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%). P values were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. BMI: body mass index; ΔBMI: annual change in body mass index; ABSΔBMI: absolute annual change in body mass index.

BMI, kg/m²

19.6 (18.6–22.2)

19.9 (19.1–22.6)

0.8813

ΔBMI, kg/m²/year

0.1 (-0.6–0.7)

0.9 (-0.8–3.3)

0.1352

ABSΔBMI, kg/m²/year

0.7 (0.4–1.2)

1.4 (0.9–3.5)

0.0003

ΔBMI ≥ 2.5 kg/m²/year, n (%)

0 (0.0)

7 (31.8)

0.0020