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Body composition profiling in a Dutch sarcoidosis population
Johanna P Cremers, Marjolein Drent1, Marjon D Elfferich
1Dept. of Interstitial Lung Diseases, Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Ede; Dept. of Toxicology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), University Maastricht, Maastricht. drentm@zgv.nl.
Summary
Muscle atrophy affects 25% of sarcoidosis patients, linked to worse lung function and exercise capacity. Cachexia was found in 5%, indicating a severe disease state.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Muscle atrophy is common in chronic inflammatory diseases, presenting as cachexia or sarcopenia.
- It can be masked by preserved fat mass, as seen in sarcopenic obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of cachexia and muscle atrophy in sarcoidosis patients.
- To investigate the association between muscle atrophy/cachexia and sarcoidosis disease activity and severity.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 423 sarcoidosis patients.
- Muscle mass assessed via fat-free mass index (FFMI) using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
- Muscle atrophy defined by FFMI percentiles; cachexia by low BMI and muscle atrophy.
Main Results:
- Muscle atrophy present in 25% of patients; cachexia in 5%.
- Muscle atrophy significantly correlated with poorer lung function (DLCO, FEV1, FVC) and reduced exercise capacity (VO2max).
- These associations were stronger in cachectic patients and remained significant after confounder adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Muscle atrophy is a significant finding in 25% of sarcoidosis patients.
- Muscle atrophy is associated with increased pulmonary disease severity.
- Further longitudinal studies are required to understand the relationship between muscle atrophy and disease progression in sarcoidosis.
