Assessing the risk factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis: a case-control study

Abstract

Abstract The study investigated sarcopenia prevalence and associated factors in cirrhosis patients admitted from July 2021 to November 2022. Of 271 participants, 27.7% had sarcopenia. Prevalence was higher in ≥60-year-olds (38.3%) and those exercising <3 times/week (36.4%). Binary regression analysis identified factors linked to sarcopenia. Lower body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.663; 95% CI 0.551–0.799, p < 0.001), mid-upper arm muscle circumference (OR 0.833; 95% CI 0.716–0.969, p = 0.018), albumin (OR 0.831; 95% CI 0.762–0.907, p < 0.001), and total cholesterol (OR 0.389; 95% CI 0.230–0.659, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with sarcopenia. Conversely, exercise <3 times/week (OR 2.498; 95% CI 1.063–5.874, p = 0.036), hepatic encephalopathy (OR 3.658; 95% CI 1.539–8.694, p = 0.003), high malnutrition risk (OR 2.579; 95% CI 1.127–5.898, p = 0.025), high alkaline phosphatase level (OR 1.007; 95% CI 1.003–1.011, p < 0.001), and age (OR 2.688; 95% CI 1.012–7.137, p = 0.047) were positively correlated with sarcopenia. Adjusting for gender weakened the age-sarcopenia link. In conclusion, sarcopenia was prevalent in cirrhosis patients, with age, physical activity, BMI, nutritional status, and albumin independently associated with it. Serum ALP and total cholesterol were linked to sarcopenia development. Regular exercise may help maintain grip strength and delay liver function deterioration in cirrhotic individuals.