Interaction of Skeletal and Left Ventricular Mass in Older Adults with Low Muscle Performance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It was recently hypothesized the existence of "cardiac-skeletal muscle axis." However, the relationship between skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and left ventricular mass (LVM) has never been investigated in the specific group of older individuals with low skeletal mass and physical performance. We tested this hypothesis in the SPRINT-T (Sarcopenia and Physical Frailty IN older people: multicomponenT Treatment strategies Trial) population using LVM as independent variable and SMM as dependent variable. METHODS: SMM was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and expressed as appendicular lean mass (ALM), and LVM was estimated through echocardiography. Low ALM was defined according to Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project criteria, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to assess physical performance. RESULTS:The population consisted of 100 persons (33 men and 67 women), aged 70 years or older (mean age = 79 AE 5 years) with low ALM and SPPB ranged between 3 and 9, suggestive of physical frailty. Charlson Comorbidity Index median score was 0. Mean value of LVM was 193 AE 67 g, indexed LVM/body surface area (LVM/BSA) was 112 AE 33 g/m 2 , and cardiac output (CO) was 65 AE 19 L/min.

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal association between atrial fibrillation and sarcopenia: Findings from the Korean frailty and aging cohort study

“…Both skeletal and cardiac muscles are striated muscle, suggesting the existence of a corresponding pathological mechanism between sarcopenia and heart failure. 28 In a previous study, sarcopenia was closely related to myocardial mass, 29 and a Singapore study described 'Cardio-Sarcopenia'. 30 We found an association between sarcopenia and atrial fibrillation in the cross-sectional analysis, but could not show a bidirectional causal relationship in the longitudinal analysis; sarcopenia did not increase the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, and atrial fibrillation, in turn, did not lead to the development of sarcopenia.…”

Cardio-sarcopenia: A syndrome of concern in aging

“…Observed among community older adults without clinical CVD, these distinctive patterns are hypothesis-generating for a possible syndrome of cardiac aging ( 5 ). Data from other cohorts have emerged that support relationships between markers of LV and skeletal muscle structure and function across the sarcopenia spectrum ( 6 , 7 ).…”

“…In a population-based cohort of older Asian subjects without clinical cardiovascular disease, skeletal muscle mass was associated with left ventricular mass, independent of age, diabetes mellitus status, and body size ( 5 ). In a selected cohort of frail sarcopenic older European subjects without severe cardiovascular disease (some had mild cardiovascular disease), appendicular lean mass was strongly associated with LVM and cardiac output ( 6 ). Although advanced age was associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass, the relationship between LVM and skeletal muscle mass appears to be independent of age ( 5 , 7 ).…”

Determinants of cardiac structure in frail and sarcopenic elderly adults

“…Data are from an ancillary study (CARDIO SPRINTT) of the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) project, a randomized control trial conducted in frail, sarcopenic older subjects aged 70 years and older, without significant heart disease to demonstrate the effectiveness of a multicomponent (MCI) intervention based on physical activity, nutritional and technological intervention versus a healthy aging lifestyle education (HALE) program for the prevention of mobility disability (Landi et al, 2017;Marzetti et al, 2018). Sarcopenia was estimated by Dual X-ray absorptiometry as ALM values according to the recommendation of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) as described elsewhere (Pelà et al, 2021;Studenski et al, 2014). Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) assessed physical frailty, with a score in the range between 3 and 9 (Longobucco et al, 2019).…”

“…In a sample of older persons with low muscle mass and physical performance, we recently demonstrated the existence of cardiac muscle axis, by showing that LVM and Appendicular Lean Mass (ALM) were positively and significantly correlated, independently from blood pressure, physical activity, and other potential confounders (Pelà et al, 2021).…”