Physical capability markers used to define sarcopenia and their association with cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes and all-cause mortality: a prospective study from UK Biobank

Petermann-Rocha, F., Ho, K. F., Welsh, P. , Mackay, D. , Brown, R., Gill, J. M.R. , Sattar, N. , Gray, S. R. , Pell, J. P. and Celis-Morales, C. A. (2020) Physical capability markers used to define sarcopenia and their association with cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes and all-cause mortality: a prospective study from UK Biobank. Maturitas, 138, pp. 69-75. (doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.04.017) (PMID:32471663)

Abstract

Introduction It is unclear what combinations of physical capability markers used to define sarcopenia have the strongest associations with health outcomes. Aim To compare the associations between different combinations of physical capability markers of sarcopenia with cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes and all-cause mortality. Study design 469,830 UK Biobank participants were included in this prospective study. Four groups were derived based on combinations of three physical capability markers used to define sarcopenia or severe sarcopenia: gait speed, grip strength and muscle mass. Outcomes studied were all-cause mortality, as well as incidence and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results All combinations of physical capability markers used to define sarcopenia or severe sarcopenia identified individuals at increased risk of respiratory disease and all-cause mortality. However, the definition most strongly associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes was the combination of slow gait speed plus low muscle mass, followed by severe sarcopenia, and the combination of slow gait speed plus low grip strength. The current definition of sarcopenia (low grip strength plus low muscle mass) had the weakest associations with all-cause (HR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.07 to 1.71]) and respiratory mortality (HR: 1.88 [95% CI: 1.15 to 3.10]), as well as respiratory disease (HR: 1.38 [95% CI: 1.11 to 1.73]) and COPD incidence (HR: 2.08 [95% CI: 1.14 to 3.79]). Conclusions Associations of sarcopenia with adverse outcomes were strongest when sarcopenia was defined as slow gait speed plus low muscle mass, followed by severe sarcopenia, suggesting that this combination of physical capability markers should be still considered in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank resource. We are grateful to UK Biobank participants. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank resource under application number 7155. FP-R receives financial support from the Chilean Government for doing her PhD (ANID-Becas Chile).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gill, Professor Jason and Mackay, Professor Daniel and Ho, Dr Frederick and Brown, Miss Rosemary and Welsh, Professor Paul and Celis, Dr Carlos and Gray, Professor Stuart and Pell, Professor Jill and Petermann-Rocha, Mrs Fanny and Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Petermann-Rocha, F., Ho, K. F., Welsh, P., Mackay, D., Brown, R., Gill, J. M.R., Sattar, N., Gray, S. R., Pell, J. P., and Celis-Morales, C. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Maturitas
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0378-5122
• ISSN (Online): 1873-4111
• Published Online: 05 May 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Maturitas 138:69-75
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher