Associations between sarcopenic obesity and risk of cardiovascular disease: A population-based cohort study among middle-aged and older adults using the CHARLS

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that sarcopenia was associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, little is known about the associations between sarcopenic obesity/possibly sarcopenic obesity and the risk of CVD among senior and middle-aged adults.

Methods: Utilizing the nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a sum of 7703 individuals aged at least 45 years were divided into four groups. The effects of sarcopenic obesity and possibly sarcopenic obesity on CVD were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Non-sarcopenic participants with optimal body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) served as a control group.

Results: Sarcopenic obesity were related to increased risks of CVD (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.16-1.67), heart disease (HR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.10-1.67) and stroke (HR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.02-1.92) compared with the optimal reference group. Similarly, the risk of CVD, heart disease and stroke increased by 0.34, 0.28 and 0.39 times in obese people with possible sarcopenia compared to the control group. Sensitivity analysis identified similar results to those described above. Patients with sarcopenia and a BMI ≥28.0 kg/m² had a 1.47- and 1.48-fold risk of developing CVD and heart disease than controls.

Conclusion: Sarcopenic obesity and possibly sarcopenic obesity are positively associated with the development of CVD. The middle-aged and elderly population should prevent obesity and maintain muscle mass through some interventions such as weight control and moderate exercise, which may reduce the CVD risk.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Obesity; Possible sarcopenia; Sarcopenia.