Subclinical atherosclerosis and sarcopenia: A prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• The relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and sarcopenia remains unclear.
• Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss, may be associated with vascular aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between composite clinical sarcopenia indices and subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis.
• To determine if structural and functional parameters of carotid atherosclerosis differ in sarcopenic individuals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 257 participants (mean age 65 years).
• Sarcopenia was assessed using the Ishii score.
• Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated using carotid artery distensibility, intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaque burden via ultrasound.

Main Results:

• Sarcopenic subjects (n=75) were older, slimmer, and at higher malnutrition risk.
• Sarcopenic individuals exhibited significantly higher carotid IMT (IMT-mean, IMT-max) and carotid plaque burden.
• No significant differences were found in carotid artery distensibility parameters between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups.
• The Ishii score independently predicted higher IMT-max and IMT-mean.

Conclusions:

• Structural indices of subclinical atherosclerosis, specifically carotid IMT and plaque burden, are significantly abnormal in sarcopenic subjects.
• Functional carotid artery parameters were not different between groups.
• Ultrasonographic atherosclerosis indices may serve as surrogate markers for sarcopenia treatments, pending further research validation.