Sarcopenia and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Longitudinal Observational Studies.

In 30 seconds

This meta-analysis pooled longitudinal observational studies examining sarcopenia and related muscle traits in relation to cardiovascular outcomes. Across 100 studies and approximately 2.3 million participants, sarcopenia was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular events after adjustment (aRR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.30-2.04). Adjusted associations were also reported for cardiovascular disease, low muscle mass, and low grip strength. The association between sarcopenia and cardiovascular mortality was significant in unadjusted analyses but not after adjustment. The authors conclude that sarcopenia and related traits may mark elevated subsequent cardiovascular risk.

Key findings

• Sarcopenia was associated with higher adjusted risk of cardiovascular events (aRR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.30-2.04).
• Adjusted risk of cardiovascular disease was higher with sarcopenia (aRR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.46).
• Low muscle mass and low grip strength were each associated with cardiovascular events after adjustment (aRR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.23-1.68; and aRR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.37-1.56, respectively).
• The association with cardiovascular mortality was not statistically significant after adjustment (aRR 1.61; 95% CI, 0.98-2.64).

Why it matters

The findings link sarcopenia and related muscle traits with subsequent cardiovascular events across a large body of longitudinal evidence. This supports considering muscle health as a potential marker of cardiovascular risk, while the weaker adjusted mortality result underscores that associations differ by outcome and should not be interpreted as proof that sarcopenia causes cardiovascular disease.

What to keep in mind

The evidence comes from observational studies, so residual confounding may remain. Sarcopenia was defined using heterogeneous criteria, limiting consistency across studies.