Correlation between Sarcopenia and Arteriosclerosis in Elderly Community Dwellers: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Arteriosclerosis and sarcopenia share common etiological factors.
• The independent correlation between arteriosclerosis and sarcopenia remains unclear after controlling for confounders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sarcopenia and arteriosclerosis in an elderly Chinese population.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 2511 elderly subjects.
• Data collected included brachial-ankle pulse wave (baPWV) for arteriosclerosis, body composition, and handgrip strength (HGS) for sarcopenia assessment.
• Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlation and binary logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Sarcopenia prevalence was 12.9% in men and 15.3% in women.
• Subjects with high baPWV exhibited significantly higher rates of sarcopenia (men: 17.7%, women: 20.4%) compared to those with normal baPWV (men: 3.7%, women: 4.9%).
• Sarcopenia was independently associated with high baPWV (OR=1.619, p<0.0001), and handgrip strength showed a negative correlation with baPWV.

Conclusions:

• Sarcopenia is significantly associated with arteriosclerosis in the elderly Chinese population.
• Shared pathophysiological mechanisms may offer targets for interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality in individuals with both conditions.
• Further prospective studies and clinical trials are warranted.