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The relationship between sarcopenia, sarcopenia related quality of life and ultrasound findings of the rectus femoris muscle in older outpatients

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

Are rectus femoris muscle ultrasound findings associated with sarcopenia and sarcopenia-related quality of life?

AbstractSection Findings

Different Rectus Femoris ultrasound parameters can be used for detecting sarcopenia in community dwelling older people. Rectus Femoris ultrasound parameters are related sarcopenia-related quality of life tertiles.

AbstractSection Message

Sarcopenia and sarcopenia-related quality of life is associated with Rectus Femoris ultrasound parameters.

Abstract

Purpose

Skeletal muscle ultrasonography stands out as a promising method for detecting sarcopenia. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia, sarcopenia related quality of life and US findings of the Rectus Femoris muscle.

Methods

A total of 300 older individuals were included in this cross-sectional study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 criteria. Rectus F muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, fascicle length, pennation angle, stiffness and echogenicity were measured by an experienced radiologist using a B-mode US device. Quality of life was determined with the Sarcopenia- Quality of life questionnaire. Correlation analysis, receiver operating analysis, sensitivity and specificity analysis were performed.

Results

The median age of participants was 72. 191 (63.9%) and 109 (36.1%) of the participants were male and female, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.6%. Fascicle length, cross-sectional area and thickness showed the highest sensitivity (81%) and specificity (87%) for men. Fascicle length and pennation angle showed the highest sensitivity (87%) and specificity (66%) for women. Rectus Femoris ultrasound parameters differed across SarQoL quartiles, and higher Sarcopenia- Quality of life scores were associated with better ultrasound parameters. All ultrasound parameters had positive correlations with Sarcopenia- Quality of life.

Conclusion

Different Rectus Femoris ultrasound parameters are useful for detecting sarcopenia according to gender. A combination of these parameters can increase diagnosis accuracy. Ultrasound parameters are associated with sarcopenia related quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Medicine Department, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Yalcin, Mursel Karadavut, Sinan Ari, Emine Gemci, Busra Yurumez, Seher Yigit, Volkan Atmis, Sevgi Aras & Murat Varli

  2. Radiology Department, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Yavuz Metin

  3. Ankara Sincan Province Health Directorate, Ankara, Turkey

    Melih Gaffar Gozukara

  4. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dekanlığı Morfoloji Yerleşkesi, Hacettepe Mahallesi A.Adnan Saygun Cad. No: 35 Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Yalcin

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Correspondence to Ahmet Yalcin.

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This study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Ankara University School of Medicine (Approval Number: I6-392-21) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Yalcin, A., Metin, Y., Karadavut, M. et al. The relationship between sarcopenia, sarcopenia related quality of life and ultrasound findings of the rectus femoris muscle in older outpatients. Eur Geriatr Med 15, 261–268 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-023-00901-y

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