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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Segmentation and Linear Measurement for Body Composition Analysis using Slice-O-Matic and Horos
Published on: March 21, 2021
Body composition and functional status in the COVID-19 recovery phase: Prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic
Montserrat Montes-Ibarra1, Flavio T Vieira1, Maria Cristina Gonzalez2
1Department of Agricultural, Food, & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Background & Aims:
COVID-19 may be associated with unfavourable body composition changes. This includes increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass, which can lead to sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO), conditions associated with impaired physical performance and reduced quality of life, among other adverse outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia and SO in individuals who recovered from the first COVID-19 wave and their association with functional outcomes.
Methods:
Clinical characteristics, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), functional status (handgrip strength [HGS], 6-min walk test [6MWT]), and lung function (spirometry) were collected.
Results:
37 individuals (89.2 % Caucasians, 64.9 % females, median age 48 years [IQR: 40; 60], 10.8 % > 65y) were assessed after a median of 189 days (IQR: 169; 201) post-COVID-19 infection. The combined prevalence of sarcopenia/SO was 40.5 %, was identified in 37.8 %, while a single case (2.7 %) of sarcopenia without obesity was found. The sarcopenia/SO group had lower 6MWT and phase angle, and higher prevalence of hypertension. Sarcopenia/SO was negatively associated with 6MWT performance (β: -115.35, 95 % CI: -161.57 to -69.12), COVID-19 symptoms, disease severity, and duration were not associated with sarcopenia/SO diagnosis.
Conclusion:
A high presence of sarcopenia/SO was identified and was negatively associated with health outcomes in individuals post-COVID-19. Thus, it is important to assess and address conditions associated with abnormal body composition after infectious diseases to better inform strategies for improving long-term outcomes.
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