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The causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and ECG indices - A mendelian randomization study
Chunli Fu1, Fei Yu1, Xiangju Liu1
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Proteomics of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Jinan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine 202132001, Jinan, China.
Sarcopenia, a condition common in older adults, impacts cardiac electrical activity. This study found that traits related to sarcopenia, like muscle mass, causally influence electrocardiogram (ECG) indices.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sarcopenia is a prevalent geriatric condition frequently linked to cardiovascular diseases.
- Understanding the interplay between sarcopenia and cardiac function is crucial for geriatric health.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) indices offer insights into cardiac electrical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and ECG indices.
- To explore how specific sarcopenia indicators influence cardiac electrical measurements.
- To establish the directionality of the causal link between sarcopenia and cardiac electrical activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for sarcopenia-related traits (e.g., hand grip strength, lean body mass, walking pace).
- Analyzed key ECG indices including PR interval, PP interval, ST duration, QRS duration, and T wave duration.
- Employed the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method for robust causal inference.
Main Results:
- Identified significant associations between sarcopenia-related traits and ECG indices.
- Observed a positive correlation between increased muscle mass and prolonged PR interval and QRS duration.
- Found that increased limb muscle mass and whole-body fat-free mass impact cardiac electrical timing.
Conclusions:
- Sarcopenia-related traits exert a unidirectional causal influence on ECG indices.
- Sarcopenia demonstrably affects cardiac electrical activity.
- Findings highlight the impact of muscle health on cardiovascular electrical function.
