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Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in comparison: prevalence, metabolic profile, and key differences. A cross-sectional study in Italian hospitalized elderly

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An Erratum to this article was published on 31 March 2017

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence, assess the metabolic profile, and key differences (versus healthy) in a cohort of subjects with sarcopenia (S) and in sarcopenic obesity (SO) hospitalized elderly.

Methods

A standardized comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed. We enrolled 639 elderly subjects (196 men, 443 women) with a mean age of 80.90 ± 7.77 years. Analysis of variance and a multinomial logistic regression analysis adjusting for covariates were used to assess the differences between groups.

Results

The prevalence of (S) was 12.42% in women and 23.47% in men. (SO) was 8.13% in women and 22.45% in men. Data showed that either groups had a functional impairment (Barthel index < 50 points). (S) had the mean value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (>15 mm/h), CPR (>0.50 mg/dl) homocysteine (>12 micromol/l), and hemoglobin (<12 g/dl). Ferritin level over the range (>145 mcg/dl) was detected in either cohort (due to inflammation). (SO) had glycemia (>110 mg/dl). Key differences in (S) cohort (versus healthy) were a reduction in functional impairment (p < 0.001), an increase in white blood cell (p < 0.01), a decrease in iron level (p < 0.05), in electrolytes balance (Na: p < 0.01 and Cl: p < 0.01), and tyroid function (TSH: p < 0.001). In addition, (S) had higher state of inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate: p < 0.05 and C-reactive protein: p < 0.01), and an increase of risk of fractures (FRAX: OR 1.07; p < 0.001), risk of malnutrition (mini nutritional assessment: p < 0.001), and risk of edema (extra cellular water: p < 0.001). In (SO) cohort, an increase in white blood cell (p < 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.05) was observed.

Conclusions

(S) subjects appears more vulnerable than (SO). Sarcopenia is closely linked to an increase in the risk of hip–femur fractures, inflammation, edema, and malnutrition. The (SO) subjects seem to benefit from the “obesity paradox.”

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Change history

  • 31 March 2017

    An erratum to this article has been published.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Section of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona di Pavia, University of Pavia, Via Emilia 12, Pavia, Italy

    Simone Perna, Gabriella Peroni, Milena Anna Faliva, Arianna Bartolo & Mariangela Rondanelli

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano, Milan, Italy

    Maurizio Naso & Alessandra Miccono

Authors
  1. Simone Perna
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  2. Gabriella Peroni
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  3. Milena Anna Faliva
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  4. Arianna Bartolo
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  5. Maurizio Naso
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  6. Alessandra Miccono
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  7. Mariangela Rondanelli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simone Perna.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Research involving human and animal rights

The investigation was undertaken within the framework of a protocol approved by the Medical School Ethics Committee.

Informed consent

Participants in the cohorts included in this analysis provided informed consent at enrollment.

Additional information

The original version of this article was revised: The name of the third author has been incorrectly published as Faliva Milena Anna. The correct name is Milena Anna Faliva.

An erratum to this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0751-6.

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Perna, S., Peroni, G., Faliva, M.A. et al. Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in comparison: prevalence, metabolic profile, and key differences. A cross-sectional study in Italian hospitalized elderly. Aging Clin Exp Res 29, 1249–1258 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-016-0701-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-016-0701-8

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