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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 May 26;19(11):6477.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116477.

Pulse Wave Velocity and Sarcopenia in Older Persons-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Karolina Piotrowicz  1 , Alicja Klich-Rączka  1 , Anna Skalska  1 , Barbara Gryglewska  1 , Tomasz Grodzicki  1 , Jerzy Gąsowski  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Pulse Wave Velocity and Sarcopenia in Older Persons-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Karolina Piotrowicz et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease share some of the pathophysiologic mechanisms. Sarcopenia is likewise an important feature of frailty and the one potentially related to cardiovascular pathology. Previously, the relationship between arterial stiffness and frailty has been established. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies where the relationship between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and sarcopenia has been addressed. We included six cross-sectional studies that enrolled 5476 participants. Using the WebPlotDigitizer, RevMan5, and SAS 9.4, we extracted or calculated the summary statistics. We then calculated standardized mean differences (SMD) of PWV in the sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic participants. The pooled SMD was 0.73 (95% CI 0.39−1.08, p < 0.0001, I2 = 90%) indicating higher value in the sarcopenic subjects. The three studies that presented odds ratios for sarcopenia as a function of PWV homogenously indicated a greater probability of concomitant sarcopenia with higher values of PWV. Greater stiffness of the aorta is associated with sarcopenia. It is impossible to establish the causation. However, the plausible explanation is that increased stiffness may translate into or be an intermediary phenotype of common vascular and muscle damage. On the other hand, sarcopenia, which shares some of the inflammatory mechanisms with cardiovascular disease, may wind up the age-related large arterial remodeling.

Keywords: PWV; arterial stiffness; meta-analysis; sarcopenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The PRISM diagram for the review and the meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The within-study means and standard deviations of the within-group pulse wave velocity with within-study and pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) [22,23,24,26,27]. Handgrip-based definition of sarcopenia for Ohara et al.’s study [22], The green squates are Std. Mean Differences as stated above the graphs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The within-study means and standard deviations of the within-group pulse wave velocity with within-study and pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) [22,23,24,26,27]. Skeletal-muscle-mass-based definition of sarcopenia for Ohara et al.’s study [22].
Figure 4
Figure 4
The funnel plot for the studies from Figure 2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The funnel plot for the studies from Figure 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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