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Spondyloarthritis and Sarcopenia: Prevalence of Probable Sarcopenia and its Impact on Disease Burden: The Saspar Study

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Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia in spondyloarthritis (SpA), according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2019 (EWGSOP2) definition. A total of 103 patients (51% women) with SpA, mean age 47.1 ± 13.7 years, were included and compared to 103 age- and sex-matched controls. Grip strength was measured by dynamometry. Body composition was assessed by whole-body densitometry. In SpA patients gait speed was measured by the 4-m-distance walk test and quality of life was evaluated with a specific health-related questionnaire for sarcopenia (SaRQoL®). Twenty-two SpA patients (21%) versus 7 controls (7%) had a low grip strength, i.e., probable sarcopenia (p < 0.01), 15 SpA (15%) patients and 7 controls (7%) had low Skeletal Muscle mass Index (SMI) (ns), respectively, and 5 and 2% of SpA patients and controls had low grip strength and low SMI, i.e., confirmed sarcopenia (ns). All the sarcopenic SpA patients had a low gait speed, i.e., severe sarcopenia. Finally, probable sarcopenic SpA patients had significantly higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP, p < 0.001) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI score, p < 0.01), lower gait speed (p < 0.001), and SarQoL® score (p < 0.001) than SpA patients with normal grip strength. According to EWGSOP2 definition, the prevalence of probable sarcopenia was significantly higher in SpA patients compared to controls. Probable sarcopenia was associated with higher inflammation and disease activity, impaired muscle performance, and quality of life. These results suggest that muscle strength may be a salient hallmark in SpA.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Charlotte Beaudart (WHO Collaborating Center for Public Health Aspects of Musculo-Skeletal Health and Ageing, Division of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Liège. Belgium) who gave access to the SARQOL® questionnaire.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM UMR 1033—Université de Lyon, 5 Place d’Arsonval, 69437, Lyon, France

    Blandine Merle, Elisabeth Sornay-Rendu, Pawel Szulc & Roland Chapurlat

  2. Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 5 Place d’Arsonval, 69437, Lyon, France

    Marie Cottard & Roland Chapurlat

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  1. Blandine Merle
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Correspondence to Blandine Merle.

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Blandine Merle, Marie Cottard, Elisabeth Sornay-Rendu, Pawel Szulc, and Roland Chapurlat declare no conflict of interest.

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Merle, B., Cottard, M., Sornay-Rendu, E. et al. Spondyloarthritis and Sarcopenia: Prevalence of Probable Sarcopenia and its Impact on Disease Burden: The Saspar Study. Calcif Tissue Int 112, 647–655 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-023-01074-3

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