[Sarcopenia in hospitalized patients, its association with phase angle, and prognostic evolution]

Introduction: the presence of sarcopenia and a decreased phase angle (PA) may be associated with worse clinical evolution. A relationship between them is probable, and PA has been proposed as a marker of muscle quality. Objectives: to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia and PA in hospitalized patients, to establish PA cut-off points for the detection of sarcopenia and to analyze its prognostic utility (mortality, hospital stay and readmissions). Methods: we conducted a single-center cross-sectional study, evaluating the presence of sarcopenia using the EWGSOP2 criteria for which bioimpedianciometry and hand grip strength were performed, with a prospective follow-up of 6 months for prognostic variables. Results: 484 patients; 61.1 % probable sarcopenia; 19 % sarcopenia. Moderate predic-tive ability for PA and sarcopenia was determined. PA cutoff points for sarcopenia were established for sarcopenia by sex and age (men > 65 years: 4.45°, men ≤ 65 years: 5.25°, women > 65 years: 4.55°; and women ≤ 65 years: 4.75°) and for proba-ble sarcopenia (men > 65 years: 5.35°, men ≤ 65 years: 5.85°, women > 65 years: 4.85°, and women ≤ 65 years: 5.65°). These cut-off points were associated with higher mor-tality (OR = 4.53, p < 0.01; OR = 3.77, p < 0.01), hospital stay ≥ 15 days (OR = 2.23, p < 0.01; OR = 2.24, p < 0.01) and early readmissions (OR = 1.94, p = 0.019; OR = 2.35, p < 0.01) by groups respectively. Conclusions: a moderate predictive capacity for sarcopenia has been determined. Cut-off points for probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia have been established and are asso-ciated with a worse prognostic evolution in hospitalized patients.