Sarcopenia predicts mortality in older adults with cardiovascular disease: concordant findings from SDOC and EWGSOP II criteria despite limited role of low lean mass

Abstract

Background

Sarcopenia is a recognized risk factor for mortality in older adults, but inconsistencies in diagnostic criteria and classification methods have led to variability in assessing this risk. The role of low lean mass alone in predicting mortality remains unclear.

Objective

This study evaluates the predictive value of sarcopenia diagnoses using different methods and assesses the impact of low lean mass on mortality in outpatient older adults.

Subjects and methods

A longitudinal cohort analysis of 439 subjects was conducted, using diagnostic criteria from the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC), which do not include low lean mass, and those from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP II), which do. Mortality was assessed over an 18-month follow-up.

Results

The mean age was 78 years (±7.33). Sarcopenia was present in 46.5 % of patients based on the SDOC criteria, while EWGSOP II phenotypes identified probable sarcopenia in 26.2 %, confirmed sarcopenia in 3.2 %, and severe sarcopenia in 13 %. The mortality rate was 7.3 %, with 78.1 % of deceased patients meeting SDOC sarcopenia criteria and 71.8 % classified under EWGSOP II phenotypes. Adjusted hazard ratios for mortality showed significant associations for SDOC sarcopenia (HR = 5.444; 1.943–14.060; p = 0.001), probable sarcopenia (HR = 5.461; 1.848–16.131, p = 0.002), confirmed sarcopenia (HR = 2.789; 0.318–24.412; p = 0.354) and severe sarcopenia (HR = 5.170; 0.318–24.412, p = 0.028).

Conclusion

In older adults with cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia is a strong predictor of mortality, regardless of the diagnostic criteria used. However, low lean mass, whether considered in isolation or as part of sarcopenia, does not contribute to mortality risk.