High prevalence of sarcopenia in acutely decompensated heart failure

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial syndrome resulting in a decrease in both muscle mass and function. It occurs with advancing age or chronic conditions such as chronic heart failure (CHF), with a negative impact on both morbidity and mortality and on the prognosis of chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact in patients with chronic heart failure. In a multicenter prospective study, sarcopenia screening and its impact were systematically conducted in 140 patients with CHF, immediately after an episode of acute HF according to the EWGSOP criteria and algorithm. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 65% (95% CI [56.5–72.9]) and was associated with impaired functional status and autonomy. Sarcopenic patients were older (78.2 ± 9.0 vs. 71.4 ± 10.9 years, P < 0.001) with a lower body mass index (25.9 ± 5.3 vs. 28.5 ± 5.6 kg/m 2 , P = 0.005). Nutritional blood biomarkers such as albumin were comparable (35.5 ± 4.7 g/l vs. 37.1 ± 5.1 g/l, P = 0.076). NT-proBNP, LVEF (42.0 ± 14.4% in the whole population, P = 0.428) and type of heart disease did not differ between groups. The median duration of HF progression was 7 [24; 120] months. More all other hospitalization were observed in sarcopenic patients ( P = 0.005). Our study demonstrates an excess prevalence of sarcopenia in CHF patients in the immediate aftermath of decompensation with an observed increase of other causes hospitalizations. This highlights the importance of identifying and managing this pathology in a multidisciplinary approach to improve the prognosis of these fragile patients.