Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesSecondary analysis
Prognostic impact of respiratory sarcopenia in older patients with heart failure: a post hoc analysis from the SONIC-HF registry
- Post hoc analysis of the SONIC-HF prospective observational study
- multicentre
Authors' conclusion
In older patients with heart failure, respiratory sarcopenia was uncommon but associated with significantly higher mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Older patients hospitalised for HF; median age 81 (IQR 74–85) years; 41.8% female
- Participants
- 435 patients
- Comparison
- Respiratory sarcopenia vs no respiratory sarcopenia
- Respiratory sarcopenian = 47
- Primary endpoint
- All-cause mortality
- Follow-up
- 2 years
Primary result
2-year all-cause mortality
Hazard ratio
2.51
95% CI 1.40–4.50
P = 0.002
Respiratory sarcopenia vs No respiratory sarcopenia
HR 2.51 (95% CI 1.40–4.50); P = 0.002
As reported in the abstract
- Mortality significantly higher with respiratory sarcopenia
- P < 0.001
- Overall deaths during 2-year follow-up
- 78 (17.9%)
Further findings
Prevalence of respiratory sarcopenia
- Respiratory sarcopenia
- 47 (10.8%)
Low diaphragm thickness or reduced % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) alone
- Not associated with mortality
Original publication
Prognostic impact of respiratory sarcopenia in older patients with heart failure: a post hoc analysis from the SONIC-HF registry. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 6 January 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag008
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it