Cohort study
Evolution of sarcopenia status and risk of incident cardiovascular disease
- Prospective cohort study
- two prospective cohorts (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), Health and Retirement Study (HRS))
- meta-analysis
- bidirectional Mendelian randomization
Authors' conclusion
The progression of sarcopenia status increases the risk of CVD, while the recovery of sarcopenia status reduces the risk of incident CVD.
Study context
- Population
- Adults from CHARLS (mean age 59.2 years, female 53.6%) and HRS (mean age 63.2 years, female 60.2%)CHARLS 6608, HRS 4316 analysed
- Exposure
- Changes in sarcopenia status vs stable status
- Outcome
- Incident CVD (self-reported physician-diagnosed heart disease or stroke)
- Follow-up
- Median 5.0 (CHARLS) and 7.5 (HRS) years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident CVD
Incidence rate ratio (95% CI)
Progressed vs Stable no sarcopeniamultivariable-adjusted; first of the two cohorts as printed
1.29(1.02–1.64)
Progressed vs Stable no sarcopeniamultivariable-adjusted; second of the two cohorts as printed
1.39(1.11–1.74)
Recovered vs Stable sarcopeniaCHARLS
0.61(0.43–0.87)
Recovered vs Stable sarcopeniaHRS
0.20(0.11–0.39)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (meta-analysis, Mendelian randomization)
- Meta-analysis: significant relationship between sarcopenia and CVD risk
- Bidirectional Mendelian randomization supported robustness and causality; no reverse association between CVD and sarcopenia
Original publication
Evolution of sarcopenia status and risk of incident cardiovascular disease. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 27 February 2025. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf115
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it