Association of Frailty Syndrome and Sarcopenia With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Older Patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease rises significantly with age. In aging, there are changes in body composition and functional status that lead to a decreased muscle mass and strength leading to sarcopenia and frailty syndrome. Frailty syndrome and sarcopenia are predicted to accelerate atherosclerosis, but the study in elderly was very limited. This study aims to find the association of frailty syndrome and sarcopenia with subclinical atherosclerosis in older patients. Methods This study was an observational study. Primary data were collected with cross-sectional study approach at Outpatient Clinic of Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung during April - August 2023 who had no history of cardiovascular disease. Frailty syndrome was measured by Ina-FRAIL score while sarcopenia was measured by Ina-SARC-F score and appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI). Body composition was measured by bioimpedance analysis. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined by the presence of carotid artery plaques evaluated by ultrasonographic examination. Results The study was conducted in 144 older patients who met the inclusion criteria. Frailty syndrome (OR 10.09, 95% CI 1.04–97.80, p value 0.046) and older age (OR 6.09, 95% CI 1.27–29.17, p value 0.024) were associated with carotid plaques. Sarcopenia based on Ina-SARC-F score (OR 1.30 95% CI 0.27–6.35, p value 0.742) and based on ASMI (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.19–2.71, p value 0.756) were not associated with carotid plaque. Conclusion Frailty syndrome is associated with the presence of carotid plaques, while sarcopenia has not been proven yet.