Sarcopenia and health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of observational studies

Veronese N, Demurtas J, Soysal P, Smith L, Torbahn G, Schöne D, Schwingshackl L, Sieber C, Bauer J, Cesari M, Bruyere O, Reginster JY, Beaudart C, Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Cooper C, Petrovic M, Maggi S (2019)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

European Geriatric Medicine Springer

DOI: 10.1007/s41999-019-00233-w

Abstract

Background

The clinical relevance of sarcopenia has increasingly been recognized. However, whether it is associated with the development of other medical conditions is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to capture the scale of outcomes that have been associated with the presence of sarcopenia and systematically assess the quality, strength, and credibility of these associations using an umbrella review methodology.

Methods

A systematic review in several databases was carried out, until 20th February 2019. For each association, random-effects summary effect size, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), heterogeneity (I2), evidence for small-study effect, evidence for excess significance bias, and 95%-prediction intervals were estimated. We used these metrics to categorize the evidence of significant outcomes (p < 0.05) from class I (convincing) to class IV (weak), according to pre-established criteria.

Results

From 358 abstracts, 6 meta-analyses with 14 associations were included. Sarcopenia was associated with higher risk of other comorbidities and mortality in 11 of 14 outcomes explored. However, only 3 outcomes (i.e., association between sarcopenia and increased risk of death in community-dwelling older people [odds ratio, OR = 3.60; 95% CI 2.96–4.37; n = 14,305], disability [OR = 3.04; 95% CI 1.80–5.12; n = 8569], and falls [OR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.31–1.97; n = 12,261]) presented a highly suggestive evidence (class II). Other association was classified as having only a weak evidence.

Conclusion

Sarcopenia is associated with several adverse health-related outcomes in older people, and its associations with mortality, disability, and falls are supported by a highly suggestive evidence. The effect of interventions on sarcopenia to improve these outcomes needs to be investigated.

Authors with CRIS profile

Gabriel Torbahn Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin (Geriatrie) Daniel Schöne Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Cornel Sieber Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin (Geriatrie)

Involved external institutions

University of Southampton GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Liège (ULg) / Université de Liège BE Belgium (BE) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy IT Italy (IT) University Hospital Ghent BE Belgium (BE) Anglia Ruskin University GB United Kingdom (GB) Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Azienda Usl Toscana sud est IT Italy (IT) Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) ES Spain (ES) Bezmialem University / Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi TR Turkey (TR) Università degli studi di Milano IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Veronese, N., Demurtas, J., Soysal, P., Smith, L., Torbahn, G., Schöne, D.,... Maggi, S. (2019). Sarcopenia and health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of observational studies. European Geriatric Medicine. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41999-019-00233-w

MLA:

Veronese, Nicola, et al. "Sarcopenia and health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of observational studies." European Geriatric Medicine (2019).

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