Sex-specific Differences in Ultrasound-Derived Muscle Parameters and Their Associations with Strength and Physical Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
{"title":"Sex-specific Differences in Ultrasound-Derived Muscle Parameters and Their Associations with Strength and Physical Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Han Yuan, Maeng-Kyu Kim","doi":"10.1159/000548460","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ultrasound technology is a promising tool for assessing muscle condition in older adults. However, sex-specific differences in how ultrasound-derived muscle parameters related to the physical function remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus was conducted to identify studies reporting sex-stratified associations between ultrasound-derived muscle parameters and functional measures. Correlation coefficients were transformed using Fisher's z-transformation and analyzed with random-effects models, then back-transformed to Pearson's r. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of 39 studies revealed that ultrasound-derived muscle parameters were consistently correlated with strength assessments across sexes, including maximal and handgrip strength (males: muscle thickness [MT], r = 0.30-0.42; echo intensity [EI], r = -0.34 to -0.38; females: MT, r = 0.34-0.37; EI, r = -0.34 to -0.35; all p > 0.05). However, for explosive power, both MT and EI had stronger associations in males than females (MT: r = 0.70 vs. 0.42; EI: r = -0.52 vs. -0.27; both p < 0.05). In gait function, MT was positively correlated in females (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) but not in males (r = -0.03, p = 0.62). Additionally, EI correlations were significantly stronger in females than males in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (r = 0.40 vs. 0.19, p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This meta-analysis revealed that MT and EI exhibit comparable correlations with maximal and handgrip strength across sexes. However, both parameters show stronger associations with explosive power in males. In contrast, females displayed more robust associations with physical function, with MT being more strongly linked to gait speed and EI to TUG performance. These findings highlight the need for sex-specific considerations in ultrasound-based muscle evaluations and provide foundational data to inform future clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12662,"journal":{"name":"Gerontology","volume":" ","pages":"1-22"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Gerontology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000548460","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Ultrasound technology is a promising tool for assessing muscle condition in older adults. However, sex-specific differences in how ultrasound-derived muscle parameters related to the physical function remain unclear.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus was conducted to identify studies reporting sex-stratified associations between ultrasound-derived muscle parameters and functional measures. Correlation coefficients were transformed using Fisher's z-transformation and analyzed with random-effects models, then back-transformed to Pearson's r. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test.
Results: Analysis of 39 studies revealed that ultrasound-derived muscle parameters were consistently correlated with strength assessments across sexes, including maximal and handgrip strength (males: muscle thickness [MT], r = 0.30-0.42; echo intensity [EI], r = -0.34 to -0.38; females: MT, r = 0.34-0.37; EI, r = -0.34 to -0.35; all p > 0.05). However, for explosive power, both MT and EI had stronger associations in males than females (MT: r = 0.70 vs. 0.42; EI: r = -0.52 vs. -0.27; both p < 0.05). In gait function, MT was positively correlated in females (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) but not in males (r = -0.03, p = 0.62). Additionally, EI correlations were significantly stronger in females than males in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (r = 0.40 vs. 0.19, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: This meta-analysis revealed that MT and EI exhibit comparable correlations with maximal and handgrip strength across sexes. However, both parameters show stronger associations with explosive power in males. In contrast, females displayed more robust associations with physical function, with MT being more strongly linked to gait speed and EI to TUG performance. These findings highlight the need for sex-specific considerations in ultrasound-based muscle evaluations and provide foundational data to inform future clinical applications.
背景：超声技术是评估老年人肌肉状况的一种很有前途的工具。然而，超声衍生的肌肉参数如何与身体功能相关的性别差异仍不清楚。方法：系统检索PubMed、Web of Science、Embase、CINAHL和SPORTDiscus，以确定报告超声来源的肌肉参数和功能测量之间性别分层关联的研究。相关系数采用Fisher’s z变换进行转换，并采用随机效应模型进行分析，然后反转换为Pearson’s r。异质性采用I2统计量进行评估，发表偏倚采用漏斗图和Egger检验进行评估。结果：对39项研究的分析显示，超声来源的肌肉参数与不同性别的力量评估一致，包括最大和握力（男性：肌肉厚度[MT]， r = 0.30-0.42；回声强度[EI]， r = -0.34 - -0.38；女性：MT， r = 0.34-0.37； EI, r = -0.34 - -0.35；均p < 0.05）。而在爆发力方面，MT与EI的相关性男性强于女性（MT: r = 0.70 vs. 0.42; EI: r = -0.52 vs. -0.27， p均< 0.05）。在步态功能方面，MT与女性呈正相关（r = 0.22, p < 0.05），与男性无正相关（r = -0.03, p = 0.62）。此外，在time Up and Go （TUG）测试中，女性的EI相关性显著强于男性（r = 0.40 vs. 0.19, p < 0.05）。结论：本荟萃分析显示MT和EI与最大握力和握力在性别上具有可比性。然而，这两个参数都与男性的爆发力有更强的关联。相比之下，女性表现出与身体功能更强的联系，MT与步态速度和EI与TUG表现的联系更强。这些发现强调了在基于超声的肌肉评估中考虑性别特异性的必要性，并为未来的临床应用提供了基础数据。
期刊介绍：
In view of the ever-increasing fraction of elderly people, understanding the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases has become a matter of urgent necessity. ''Gerontology'', the oldest journal in the field, responds to this need by drawing topical contributions from multiple disciplines to support the fundamental goals of extending active life and enhancing its quality. The range of papers is classified into four sections. In the Clinical Section, the aetiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of agerelated diseases are discussed from a gerontological rather than a geriatric viewpoint. The Experimental Section contains up-to-date contributions from basic gerontological research. Papers dealing with behavioural development and related topics are placed in the Behavioural Science Section. Basic aspects of regeneration in different experimental biological systems as well as in the context of medical applications are dealt with in a special section that also contains information on technological advances for the elderly. Providing a primary source of high-quality papers covering all aspects of aging in humans and animals, ''Gerontology'' serves as an ideal information tool for all readers interested in the topic of aging from a broad perspective.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
