Biophysical and nutritional combination treatment for myosteatosis in patients with sarcopenia: a study protocol for single-blinded randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Sarcopenia is characterised by age-related loss of skeletal muscle and function and is associated with risks of adverse outcomes. The prevalence of sarcopenia increases due to ageing population and effective interventions is in need. Previous studies showed that β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplement and vibration treatment (VT) enhanced muscle quality, while the coapplication of the two interventions had further improved muscle mass and function in sarcopenic mice model. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of this combination treatment in combating sarcopenia in older people. The findings of this study will demonstrate the effect of combination treatment as an alternative for managing sarcopenia.

Methods and analysis
In this single-blinded randomised controlled trial, subjects will be screened based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 definition. 200 subjects who are aged 65 or above and identified sarcopenic according to the AWGS algorithm will be recruited. They will be randomised to one of the following four groups: (1) Control+ONS; (2) HMB+ONS; (3) VT+ONS and (4) HMB+VT + ONS, where ONS stands for oral nutritional supplement. ONS will be taken in the form of protein formular once/day; HMB supplements will be 3 g/day; VT (35 Hz, 0.3 g, where g=gravitational acceleration) will be received for 20 mins/day and at least 3 days/week. The primary outcome assessments are muscle strength and function. Subjects will be assessed at baseline, 3-month and 6-month post treatment.

Ethics and dissemination
This study was approved by Joint CUHK-NTEC (The Chinese University of Hong Kong and New Territories East Cluster) Clinical Research Management Office (Ref: CRE-2022.223-T) and conformed to the Declaration of Helsinki. Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at academic conferences.

Trial registration number
NCT05525039.

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Abstract 16118: Vitamin D3 Significantly Decreases Vascular Stiffness, Improving Cognitive Impairment and Sarcopenia in a Frail, Elderly Population From Buenos Aires, Argentina

Circulation, Volume 148, Issue Suppl_1, Page A16118-A16118, November 6, 2023. Introduction:Aging is the leading risk factor for multiple chronic diseases especially cardio and cerebrovascular and for a decline in physical and mental function. Progressive stiffening arterial wall, cognitive impairment and sarcopenia are hallmarks of aging. Due to the pleiotropic actions that have been discovered in vitamin D (VD), which include vascular ,muscular and cognitive effects, we hypothesized that VD3 supplementation might decrease vascular stiffness and could have beneficial effect on mental status and sarcopenia in a frailty elderly population.Methods:We randomized 42 residents (78±6.5 yo; 24 females) from a public geriatric institution, to receive either 100,000 IU of VD3 or placebo (P) every 15 days for 6 months. Arterial stiffness (AS) was evaluated through central systolic pressure (cSYS), central pulse pressure (cPP), and the augmentation index (AIx) a measure of systemic AS derived from the ascending aortic pressure waveform; using Uscom® device. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Clock-Drawing Test (CDT), which is simple and effective for this population. Skeletal muscle strength/sarcopenia, were assess with the up and go test (UGT), muscle strength with hydraulic dynamometer, body mass index (BMI) and mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) test.Results:VD group showed a statistically significant decrease in AS vs P. VD Δ cSYS -12.3 mmHg, Δ cPP -6.7 mmHg mmHg and Δ AIx -17.8 %, for all three parameters: p

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Abstract 13076: Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Transplantation

Circulation, Volume 148, Issue Suppl_1, Page A13076-A13076, November 6, 2023. Background:The Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index (GNRI) is a simple nutritional assessment tool used in elderly patients. Sarcopenia, defined as reduced muscle mass strength, is widely prevalent in patients with advanced heart failure, and has been associated with worse clinical outcomes including post-transplant infections and mortality but is not routinely assessed. The relationship between GNRI and sarcopenia in advanced heart failure patients undergoing cardiac transplantation has not been well-established.Aims/Hypotheses:The primary outcome was to determine if GNRI was associated with sarcopenia as diagnosed using pectoralis muscle area index. We hypothesize that patients with a higher nutritional risk (GNRI < 92) will have higher rates of sarcopenia.Methods:Patients who underwent cardiac transplantation from January 2018 to June 2022 and who underwent preoperative chest CT scans were included. GNRI was calculated using albumin, height and weight on the day of transplant. Previous literature has defined malnutrition status as a GNRI < 92. The primary outcome was sarcopenia which was diagnosed as pectoralis muscle area index in the lowest sex-specific tertile.Results:172 patients were included in the primary analysis and were stratified into high (GNRI92) nutritional risk. Patients with high nutritional risk had a lower BMI than those with low nutritional risk. Patients with high nutritional risk were more likely to meet criteria for sarcopenia than those with low risk (56.5% vs 28.9%, p=0.02). Additionally, patients with high nutritional risk had a longer hospital length of stay at their index hospitalization than patients with low nutritional risk (29 vs 22 days, p=0.03). There were no significant differences by nutritional risk in outcomes of rehospitalizations, days alive and out of the hospital, or death.Conclusions:Lower GNRI (higher nutritional risk) was associated with a greater prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. This index may represent a simple screening tool utilizing readily available data to ascertain sarcopenia in patients with advanced heart failure.

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Abstract 17932: Smoking History is Associated With Worse Outcomes in Patients With Sarcopenia Admitted for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Circulation, Volume 148, Issue Suppl_1, Page A17932-A17932, November 6, 2023. Background:Sarcopenia and smoking are independently associated with worse heart failure (HF) outcomes; therefore, their combined effect is likely even more detrimental.Research Questions:We studied the impact of sarcopenia and smoking on outcomes in patients admitted for acute decompensated HF (ADHF).Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 406 consecutive patients hospitalized at our tertiary care center for ADHF from 2017 to 2020 with computed tomography of the chest one month before the discharge date. Semi-automatic measurements were made at T12 (Figure 1A) and adjusted for height squared to obtain skeletal muscle index (SMI). To compare survival, patients were divided into four groups: nonsarcopenic nonsmokers (controls, 22.4%), sarcopenic nonsmokers (10.6%), nonsarcopenic smokers (44.3%), and sarcopenic smokers (22.7%). Sarcopenia was the lowest sex-stratified SMI tertile (cutoffs of 29.6 cm2/m2in males and 25.7 cm2/m2in females), and smokers were those who had ever smoked.Results:The mean admission age of our cohort was 70±14 years, 44.3% were female, and 67.0% had a smoking history (191 former and 81 active). Compared to nonsmokers, patients with a smoking history had more COPD (53.3% vs. 18.7%, p

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Abstract 11787: The Association Between Preoperative Sarcopenia and Outcomes After Cardiac Transplantation

Circulation, Volume 148, Issue Suppl_1, Page A11787-A11787, November 6, 2023. Introduction:Sarcopenia, or reduced muscle mass and function, is underdiagnosed in advanced heart failure and is not routinely assessed. In patients receiving a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), preoperative sarcopenia, defined using CT-derived pectoralis muscle area index (muscle area indexed to height), was an independent predictor of post-operative mortality. The association between preoperative sarcopenia and outcomes after cardiac transplantation is unknown.Aims/Hypotheses:The primary aim was to determine if preoperative sarcopenia, diagnosed using pectoralis muscle area index, is an independent predictor of days alive & out of the hospital at 1-year post-cardiac transplant. We hypothesize that patients with preoperative sarcopenia will have fewer days alive & out of the hospital compared to those without.Methods:Patients who underwent cardiac transplantation from January 2018 to June 2022 with available preoperative chest CT scans (68% of total cohort) were included. Sarcopenia was diagnosed as pectoralis muscle area index in the lowest sex-specific tertile (male < 5.7 cm2/m2; female < 4.4 cm2/m2). The primary endpoint was days alive & out of the hospital at 1-year post-transplant.Results:172 patients were included of whom 32.7% met criteria for sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia were more likely white with lower body mass index (BMI) (23.5 vs 27.7 kg/m2). Patients with sarcopenia had fewer days alive & out of the hospital compared to those without, with a median difference of 16.5 days (320.5 vs. 337 days, p=0.004). Patients with sarcopenia had a longer index hospitalization (28.5 vs. 22 days) and were more likely to be discharged to a facility other than home (40.4% vs. 12.3%). In a linear regression model, sarcopenia was a significant univariable and the strongest multivariable predictor of days alive & out of the hospital at 1-year when controlling for diabetes status (β = -14.4, 95% CI -28, -1.2, p = 0.032).Conclusions:Preoperative sarcopenia, diagnosed using pectoralis muscle area index, is an independent predictor of poor outcomes after cardiac transplant. This parameter is easily measurable from commonly obtained preoperative CT scans and may be considered in the transplant evaluation as a marker of risk.

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Current evidence on the association of tongue strength with cognitive decline in older adults and the known risk factors of frailty, sarcopenia and nutritional health: a scoping review protocol

Introduction
Evidence suggests that the pathology underlying cognitive decline leading to dementia begins 15–20 years before cognitive symptoms emerge. Thus, identifying biomarkers in this preclinical phase is critically important. Age-related decrease in muscle mass and strength, a known risk factor for sarcopenia, frailty and cognitive decline, also affects the tongue. This paper describes an a priori protocol by a multidisciplinary team to address the following questions relating to adults ≥50 years of age: (1) What is the current evidence on the association of tongue strength with cognitive decline? (2) How does tongue strength associate with frailty and sarcopenia? (3) What is the association of tongue strength with nutritional health?

Methods and analysis
Search terms will be identified then multiple electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus, Embase (Ovid), CINAHL and Web of Science) searched systematically for peer-reviewed articles published in English that address the following inclusion criteria: (1) human studies, (2) participants ≥50 years of age and (3) studies with tongue pressure values measured in relation to at least one of the following: frailty, sarcopenia, nutritional health, cognitive function and dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular, frontotemporal and Lewy body). Grey literature also will be searched to identify additional studies, clinical trials and policy papers appropriate for inclusion. The search will be from database inception. After removing duplicates, two research team members will independently screen abstracts and identify articles for full-text review. The team will use a data charting tool for data extraction. Data will be analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Ethics and dissemination
The scoping review does not require ethics approval as data will be from publicly available sources. Results will be disseminated in workshops and conferences and a peer-reviewed journal paper.

Leggi
Ottobre 2023