Evolution of sarcopenia status and risk of incident cardiovascular disease

Sarcopenia is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies did not take into consideration the cardiovascular impact of the changes in sarcopenia status. We investigated the relationship between changes in sarcopenia status and incident CVD.

Participants from two prospective cohorts: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were included. Changes in sarcopenia status were assessed by sarcopenia status at the initial two surveys. Cardiovascular disease was ascertained by self-reported physician-diagnosed heart disease or stroke. A total of 6608 and 4316 adults from CHARLS (mean age: 59.2 years, female: 53.6%) and HRS (mean age: 63.2 years, female: 60.2%) were analysed, with a median follow-up of 5.0 and 7.5 years, respectively. Meta-analysis showed a significant relationship between sarcopenia and CVD risk. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis supported the robustness and causality, and no reverse association was found between CVD and sarcopenia. Compared with stable no sarcopenia participants, multivariable-adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident CVD in those who progressed from no sarcopenia to possible sarcopenia/sarcopenia were 1.29 (1.02-1.64) and 1.39 (1.11-1.74) in both cohorts. In contrast, sarcopenia participants who recovered to no sarcopenia/possible sarcopenia had lower incidence of CVD (CHARLS, IRR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.43-0.87; HRS, IRR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.11-0.39) than stable sarcopenia participants did.

The progression of sarcopenia status increases the risk of CVD, while the recovery of sarcopenia status reduces the risk of incident CVD.