Association between sarcopenia and osteoarthritis: A protocol for meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rheumatology
• Musculoskeletal Diseases

Background:

• Sarcopenia is an age-related decline in muscle strength and mass, leading to frailty and disability.
• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease affecting over 250 million people globally, causing significant disability.
• The association between sarcopenia and OA is suggested but remains controversial, with unclear prevalence in OA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with osteoarthritis.
• To confirm the association between sarcopenia and osteoarthritis through a comprehensive data analysis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to February 28, 2022.
• Independent study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment by two investigators.
• Meta-analysis to pool effect estimates, with subgroup analyses and investigation of heterogeneity and publication bias.

Main Results:

• (Results not yet available as this is a protocol.)

Conclusions:

• (Conclusions not yet available as this is a protocol.)