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. 2024 Jun;39(3):557-567.
doi: 10.1002/ncp.11125. Epub 2024 Feb 6.

High prevalence of muscle weakness and probable sarcopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Ilkay Ergenc  1   2 , Chasan Ismail Basa  3 , Alper Uzum  3 , Sevval Sahin  3 , Haluk Tarık Kani  1 , Rahmi Aslan  1 , Aslı Tufan  4 , Özgür Kasımay  5 , Özlen Atuğ  1 , Yeşim Özen Alahdab  1
Affiliations

High prevalence of muscle weakness and probable sarcopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Ilkay Ergenc et al. Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) diagnostic criteria.

Methods: Sarcopenia was assessed by using the sequential four-step algorithm. (1) Find: Sarcopenia risk by simple clinical symptom index (strength, assistance walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, and falls [SARC-F questionnaire]). (2) Assess: Probable sarcopenia by low muscle strength on handgrip. (3) Confirm: Confirmed sarcopenia by low appendicular skeletal muscle mass on bioimpedance analysis. (4) Severity: Severe sarcopenia by low 4-m gait speed test.

Results: A total of 129 adult patients with IBD younger than 65 years and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy control (HC) participants were included to the study. Handgrip strength, gait speed, and SARC-F scores were significantly lower in patients with IBD than in the HCs (P = 0.032, <0.0001, and <0.0001, respectively). Based on the EWGSOP2 definition, 17.8% of patients with IBD had probable sarcopenia, and six patients had confirmed sarcopenia. According to the ethnicity-based population thresholds, 34.9% of patients with IBD had probable sarcopenia, and two patients had confirmed sarcopenia. Corticosteroid use within the past year was identified as an independent risk factor for low muscle strength (P = 0.012; odds ratio, 4.133), along with advanced age and disease activity.

Conclusion: One-third of the patients younger than 65 years with IBD had probable sarcopenia, defined as low muscle strength, whereas the incidence of confirmed sarcopenia remained relatively low.

Keywords: bioelectric impedance analysis; handgrip; inflammatory bowel disease; muscle strength; probable sarcopenia; sarcopenia.

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References

REFERENCES

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