Feasibility of Sarcopenia Assessment and Association With Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Purpose: The primary aim was to report feasibility of sarcopenia assessment within 7 days of ischemic stroke. Secondary aims were to estimate prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with functional outcome after stroke. Method: Participants, ischemic stroke survivors from two hospital acute stroke units, underwent sarcopenia assessment steps using the revised European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP-2) guidelines within 7 days after stroke. Functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]) was assessed 4-6 months post-stroke. Assessment steps were feasible if all participants completed them without serious adverse events. Ordinal regression was used to assess mRS associations at 4-6 months (dependent variable) with grip strength and muscle mass during the acute phase post-stroke (independent variables). Results: All 47 participants completed bioelectrical impedance analyses (BIA) and grip strength with at least the non-stroke affected side without serious adverse events. Six and five participants did not complete chair-rise and gait speed tests, respectively. Four participants (9%) met criteria for sarcopenia. Higher grip strength was independently associated with reduced odds of higher mRS scores. Conclusions: Grip strength and BIA assessments using the EWGSOP-2 guidelines were feasible. Skeletal muscle strength may be an intervention target to improve functional outcome after stroke.