Association between cardiovascular disease risk and sarcopenia in community-dwelling Japanese older adults

Abstract

Aim

Sarcopenia's high prevalence in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) suggests that the risk of comorbidity in sarcopenia might also be increased during the at-risk phase of CVD. However, the relationship between CVD risk and sarcopenia has not been elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between CVD risk and sarcopenia in community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

Methods

The participants in this cross-sectional study included 14 923 community-dwelling Japanese older adults (mean age 73.2 ± 5.6 years). The present study estimated the CVD risk using the revised World Health Organization risk chart, and classified CVD risk into “low” (<10%) and “mid-high” (≥10%). Assessments of sarcopenia, muscle mass, muscle strength and gait speed were measured based on the clinical definitions.

Results

Among the participants, 654 people (4.4%) had sarcopenia, and 4857 (32.6%) had CVD mid-high risk. A multiple logistic model showed that the CVD mid-high risk was associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–1.89). In addition, CVD mid-high risk was associated with low muscle mass (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.50–2.01), low muscle strength (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14–1.37) and slow gait speed (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07–1.27) in the adjusted model.

Conclusions

Among community-dwelling older adults, high or moderate CVD risk was associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia. Our findings could help identify older adults with a future high risk for sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1328–1334.