# Muscle and Belly Fat on Routine Chest CT Scans Linked to Death Risk

_Evidence Level: Moderate · Yi J et al., medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences, DOI 10.64898/2026.08.05.26359437_

*Beyond BMI: an interpretable integrated body composition index from low-dose chest CT for all-cause mortality risk stratification: a multicentre study.*

- **Evidence Level**: Moderate
- **Why this grade**: Multicenter cohort of 28,509 heart patients followed about 3.5 years with external validation, though it is an unreviewed preprint.
- **Facts**: Design: Preprint · Duration: 3.5 years · Funding: National Institutes of Health
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article, Preprint
- **Journal**: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
- **Sample Size**: 28,509 adults with suspected or known coronary artery disease
- **Authors**: Yi J, Patel KK, Miller RJH, Marcinkiewicz AM, Kamagate A, Shanbhag A, Hijazi W, Lemley M, Zhou J, Liang JX, Ramirez G, Mostafavi S, Urs M, Spielvogel CP, Slipczuk L, Travin M, Alexanderson E, Caraval-Juarez I, Packard RRS, Al-Mallah M, Ruddy TD, Einstein AJ, Feher A, Miller EJ, Acampa W, Knight S, Le VT, Mason S, Calsavara VF, Chareonthaitawee P, Wopperer S, Kwan AC, Wang L, Li D, Fishman EK, Lopez-Ramirez F, Berman DS, Kwiecinski J, Dey D, Carli MD, Slomka PJ
- **Graded and published**: 2026-08-10
- **Last edited**: 2026-10-09
- **Topics**: Body Composition, Muscle, Mortality
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.05.26359437
- **Free full text**: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13640766/
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42845593/

## Summary

An AI score built from routine chest CT scans predicted death risk well, with fat around the organs and muscle size mattering most. Researchers tested it in over 28,000 people with suspected or known heart disease at 12 centers in four countries, followed for about 3.5 years. This supports the growing view that what your body is made of, not just your weight, may matter for longevity. The benefit of improving body makeup came only from computer simulations, and the study is an unreviewed preprint in heart patients.

## Practical Takeaway

This study suggests muscle and organ fat may say more about health risk than weight alone.

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_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/research/muscle-and-belly-fat-on-routine-chest-ct-scans-linked-to-death-risk · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-10-09_