A Novel Sarcopenia Screening Score Based on Thyroid Function Parameters in Euthyroid Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sarcopenia poses a significant health challenge for aging populations.
• Thyroid hormone function is increasingly recognized as a factor in sarcopenia development.
• Existing screening tools may not be optimal for all populations, particularly those with normal thyroid function tests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel sarcopenia screening score tailored for middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals with normal thyroid function.
• To investigate the utility of thyroid hormone parameters in sarcopenia screening.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 3,858 participants was conducted.
• Participants were divided into exploratory and validation cohorts.
• Lasso regression and multivariate logistic regression were employed to develop and refine the screening score.

Main Results:

• A five-variable score (age, BMI, calf circumference, AST/ALT ratio, free T4) was developed, ranging from 0-14.
• The score demonstrated good discriminative ability (AUC 0.845-0.854) and calibration (Brier scores 0.092 and 0.068).
• Optimal cutoffs varied between cohorts, yielding high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions:

• The novel sarcopenia screening score is a promising, practical tool for identifying sarcopenia in the target population.
• This score can aid in early detection and management of sarcopenia among individuals with normal thyroid function in China.