Sarcopenia and frailty in Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional analytical study

Sarcopenia and frailty are common geriatric syndromes characterized by high morbidity and low physical function. Here, we aimed to analyze risk of sarcopenia and frailty in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

The study was planned as cross-sectional and analytical at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic between April and December in 2023. Sixty-two male/female patients diagnosed with PD were included in the study. SARC-F (Strength, Assistance, Rising, Climbing and Falls) (cut off ≥ 4) was used for sarcopenia risk. Muscle strength was evaluated with manual muscle strength and handgrip strength (HG). Clinical frailty scale (CFS) (<5 nonfrail) was used for frailty. Physical performance was evaluated with chair stand test and timed up and go test (TUG).

Total 23 female and 39 male patients with PD, with an average age of 66.2±11.4 years, were included in the study. Sarcopenia was detected in 35 (56.5%) of the participants, frailty was detected in 26 (41.9%) and malnutrition was detected in 12 (19.4%). Regardless of age (p=0.704), disease duration (p=0.157) and BMI (p=0.806); In the high sarcopenia risk group (n=35), the proportion of females sex (p=0.034) was high, while right handgrip strength (p=0.019) and left handgrip strength (p=0.003) were lower. In addition, Hoehn & Yahr staging was advanced (p=0.012), and Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)-39 scores were higher (p<0.001) in the high sarcopenia risk group.

Sarcopenia and frailty are commonly observed in PD and are associated with female sex, advanced disease stage and high severity, low physical performance, high kinesiophobia, higher prevalence of malnutrition, independent of age, disease duration and BMI.