Relationship between comorbidity and sarcopenia: impact on mortality and survival

The growth of geriatric syndromes (sarcopenia, senile asthenia, etc.) in the setting of age-related comorbidity has a negative prognostic value for survival of older patients. Early detection of sarcopenia matters muchtoreduce mortality rates among the elderly. Aim. Evaluation of the incidence of comorbidities in patients of mature, elderly and senile age with and without sarcopenia and their impact on mortality and survival rates. Materials and methods. We examined 39 men and 39 women aged between 45 and 89 (average are 60,6±14,3 years). Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) 2010 and the EWGSOP2 2018 recommendations. The comorbidity status was assessed using the Charlson index. Results. Sarcopenia of different severity degrees was detected in 55,7% of the subjects using ultrasound assessment of muscle mass (MM), the incidence of sarcopenia was higher in women that in men (p<0,05). 88,6% of the patients had BMI >25 kg/m2. The mean Charlson index (score) was 6,7±0,3 for sarcopenia patients, and 4,0±0,4 for non-sarcopenia patients (p<0,05). According to the Charlson index, the mortality rate was statistically higher and the survival rate was lower in the sarcopenia group (p<0,05). Conclusion. The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients over 45 years of age in the setting of comorbidity and obesity is up to 55 %, which increases the mortality and decreases the survival rate of patients with concomitant pathologies. Using ultrasound assessment of muscle mass MM, sarcopenia can be diagnosed early to begin preventive measures.

geriatrics, sarcopenia, comorbidity, ultrasound assessment of muscle mass