Skeletal muscle changes and incidence of sarcopenia in patients with hypertension

Abstract

Background. The research on sarcopenia and arterial hypertension (HTN) suggests that there is a relationship between left ventricular dysfunction and the severity of sarcopenia. This research purposed to study the skeletal muscle changes and sarcopenia prevalence in patients with HTN. Materials and methods. 180 patients with HTN stage II with preserved ejection fraction, aged 63.8 ± 6.2 years, were examined. 50 % of patients (60 women and 30 men) had a SARC-F score of more than 4 points (study group), the others consisted of the comparison group. To diagnose sarcopenia, muscle strength was assessed using a hand dynamometry and a sit-to-stand test; muscle mass was determined by calf circumference (CC); skeletal muscle function was assessed by a walking speed test. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the EWGSOP2 (2019) criteria. Results. In the study group, reduced hand strength was observed in 88.3 % of women and 60 % of men. The sit-to-stand test was increased by 25.2 ± 1.2 s/5 times. The significant correlations were between hand dynamometry indices and the age of women (r = –0.53) and men (r = –0.18), and with BMI (r = –0.77 in women and r = –0.88 in men). In 58.3 % of women and 33.3 % of men, a decrease in CC < 31 cm was found. Correlations between BMI and CC were established in women (r = 0.87) and men (r = 0.41). A reduction in the functional capacity of skeletal muscles was noted in 53.3 % of women and 23.3 % of men. The significant correlations were between walking speed and age in women (r = –0.41) and men (r = –0.35), and BMI in women (r = –0.46) and men (r = –0.39). Conclusions. The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with stage II HTN was 38.3 %. Among the subjects of the study group, sarcopenia was detected in 70 %, and severe sarcopenia in 35.6 % of cases. Although the total score on the SARC-F scale in the comparison group did not exceed 4 points, sarcopenia was diagnosed in 14.4 % of cases.