Association of sarcopenia and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly male patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aim: to evaluate the association of sarcopenia and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly male patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and Methods: the study included 36 patients (mean age — 68.9 (66; 71) years) with an established diagnosis of grade II–III knee OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was conducted on the basis of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP, 2010) recommendations with the determination of three parameters: muscle strength, muscle mass and muscle function. The severity of carotid atherosclerotic lesions was assessed by duplex color scanning with examination of the intima-media thickness (IMT), the presence of atherosclerotic plaques and the degree of aortic stenosis. Comparative analysis was performed in 3 groups: group 1 — 10 patients without sarcopenia, group 2— 12 patients with presarcopenia, and group 3 — 14 patients with sarcopenia. Results: IMT in group 3 with sarcopenia was statistically significantly (p=0.005) higher versus the same indicator in men without sarcopenia. The majority (23 (63.9%)) of the patients included in the study had carotid atherosclerotic lesions. The most severe carotid lesion with multiple atherosclerotic plaques and stenosis not less than 50% was significantly more commonly detected in patients with sarcopenia: 35.7% versus group 2 with presarcopenia (8.3%, p=0.015) and without sarcopenia (10.0%, p=0.013). According to the correlation analysis, a significant negative association was established between the severity of carotid atherosclerosis and the musculoskeletal index (r=-0.227, p=0.047). Conclusion: the association between carotid atherosclerosis and body composition disorders in men with knee OA allows discussing atherosclerosis and sarcopenia as two conditions with common pathogenetic mechanisms that potentially increase the risk of adverse outcomes. KEYWORDS: sarcopenia, presarcopenia, carotid atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, elderly, male. FOR CITATION: Alekseeva L.I., Taskina E.A., Raskina T.A. et al. Association of sarcopenia and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly male patients with knee osteoarthritis. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2022;6(3):120–125 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2022-6-3-120-125.