Prevalence and risk factors of possible sarcopenia in patients with subacute stroke

Abstract

Possible sarcopenia, the loss of handgrip strength in the older population, can lead to poor functional prognosis after stroke. In this retrospective study, we aimed to elucidate the clinical risk factors for possible sarcopenia at discharge in 152 hospitalized patients with subacute stroke. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors associated with possible sarcopenia. At the time of discharge, the prevalence of possible sarcopenia was 68.4%. After adjusting for all potential covariates, older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.21; p = 0.04), tube-dependent feeding (OR, 6.66; 95% CI, 1.11–39.84; p = 0.04), and high National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.00–1.44; p = 0.04) were associated with a higher likelihood of possible sarcopenia at discharge. Higher nonhemiplegic calf circumference (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67–0.96; p = 0.02) was associated with a lower likelihood of possible sarcopenia. We conclude that tube feeding, high stroke severity, decreased nonhemiplegic calf circumference, and older age are independent risk factors for possible sarcopenia in patients with subacute stroke.

Impact of possible sarcopenia on functional prognosis in patients with acute stroke with premorbid disability

“…Further, a high sarcopenia prevalence has been reported in patients with heart failure 18 or who originally had a stroke, 19 with a remarkable surge in prevalence following a stroke event 20 . Previous studies have reported a 68.4% prevalence of “possible sarcopenia” in inpatients with subacute stroke at discharge, 21 which is higher than that in community‐dwelling older adults or outpatients 22,23 . This implies an increased propensity for sarcopenia and “possible sarcopenia” with prolonged poststroke duration or greater disease severity.…”