Ultrasonographically Measured Rectus Femoris Cross-sectional Area might Predict Osteosarcopenia.

AIM: We have aimed to investigate the role of ultrasonographic muscle parameters (UMP) in predicting osteosarcopenia in bedridden patients in a palliative care center. BACKGROUND: The role of ultrasound has not been evaluated in predicting osteosarcopenia. OBJECTIVE: Reduced muscle thickness (MT) and cross-sectional area (CSA) have often been observed in individuals with sarcopenia, reflecting muscle loss and atrophy. Meanwhile, the potential role of muscle ultrasound has not been evaluated in predicting osteosarcopenia. METHODS: We have conducted a prospective, observational study between January 2021 and 2022. We have recorded the demographics, comorbidities, and nutritional status by using the mini nutritional assessment-short form. We measured handgrip strength with a hand dynamometer and the muscle mass with dual X-ray absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 criteria. Osteoporosis was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria. We have categorized the body phenotypes into four groups: "non-sarcopenic non-osteoporotic," "sarcopenic alone," "osteoporotic alone," and "sarcopenic osteoporotic." We have measured the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), MT, and CSA of the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps brachii (BB) via ultrasonography. A multivariate regression analysis was performed and area under curve (AUC) values were used to evaluate the accuracy of UMPs. RESULTS: We included 31 patients (mean age: 74.6±12.1 years, 54.8%: male). The prevalences of sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and sarcopenic osteoporosis were 71%, 48.4%, and 41.9%, respectively. Only the "sarcopenic osteoporotic" phenotype was negatively correlated with all UMPs. In the regression analysis, only the "sarcopenic osteoporotic" phenotype was independently associated with RFCSA (ß=-0.456, p= 0.024). The AUC for all patients was >0.700. CONCLUSION: RFCSA measurement might be useful in the screening for osteosarcopenia. This has been the first study investigating the relationship between UMPs and body phenotypes. Multi-center and large-scale studies are, however, needed.

Comparison of muscle and fat parameters measured by ultrasonography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry between older palliative care patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are limited data on the comparison of body compositions between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. We aimed to compare the muscle mass and fat parameters measured by ultrasonography (USG) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) between older palliative care patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study. We recorded the demographics, comorbidities, blood pressures, microvascular complications, pressure injuries, ambulation and nutritional status, and laboratory parameters. We measured the handgrip strength with a hand dynamometer and anthropometric parameters. We analyzed the subcutaneous fat thickness, muscle thickness (MT), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps brachii muscles by USG and the total and regional muscle mass and fat parameters by DXA. We performed a regression analysis to examine the independently associated factors of DM. RESULTS: We included 55 patients (mean age: 79.0 ± 8.0 years, 56.4%: female). 43.6% had type 2 DM. The patients with DM had significantly higher glucose and HbA1c levels and lower RFMT and RFCSA values than the patients without DM (p < 0.01, for all). The RFMT was independently associated with DM after adjusting age, sex, and body mass index (Odds ratio = 0.735, 95% confidence interval = 0.565-0.956, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the RFMT might be associated with type 2 DM. This was the first study comparing the body compositions measured by USG and DXA between older diabetic and non-diabetic palliative patients with a wide range of laboratory evaluations. Longitudinal, multi-center studies are warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Peripheral Vascular Disease is Associated with Impaired Activities of Daily Living in the Elderly with Dementia: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Although distinct disorders, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and dementia are both associated with a progressive decline in activities of daily living in elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the functional performance scores between elderly patients with and without dementia and with or without PVD. METHODS: Patients with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mixed type dementia and controls were prospectively enrolled. Functional performance scores for basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were evaluated using the Barthel scale and Lawton scale, respectively. PVD was diagnosed using the ankle brachial index (ABI). RESULTS: Controls without PVD were age- and sex-matched with 57 patients with both dementia and PVD and with 69 patients without dementia. The patients with PVD in both groups had lower mean BALD scores. Adjusting for age, clinical dementia rating, and depression, PVD was associated with a higher likelihood of being in the quartiles of lower BADL scores in those with dementia (p=0.020). Adjusting for age, sex, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, depression, and comorbidity and drug counts among the patients without dementia, a significant association was observed with PVD and a higher likelihood of being in the quartiles of lower BADL scores (p=0.044). PVD was related to a higher likelihood of being in the quartiles of lower IADL scores in the non-dementia subjects (p=0.001) after adjusting for age, depression, MMSE, education, and comorbidity count. CONCLUSION: PVD presence determined the poorer status of BADL in demented individuals but not of the level of IADL. It is still unclear whether modifying PVD health risks and undergoing ABI screening may help demented people become more independent.

Low bone density and osteoporosis among older adults with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia: A Cross-sectional Study With Prospective Enrollment.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis in older adults with dementia compared to those with a normal cognitive status and to evaluate the type, severity, and duration of dementia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2013 and May 2017, a total of 363 participants aged ≥65 years (136 males, 227 females; mean age 78.4±5.4 years; range 66 to 99 years) with and without Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), or mixed dementia (AD-VaD) were included in this single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study. The dementia group included 93 patients with dementia and the control group included 270 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure BMD of the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck. RESULTS: Controlled for age and sex, demented and non-demented participants had a similar BMD (g/cm2) at lumbar spine [F (1, 358):0.83, p=363], but lower BMD values of total hip [F (1, 359):10.26, p=0.001] and femoral neck [F (1, 359):15.21, p<0.001] in the patients with dementia. Adjusted percentage of osteoporosis and low bone mass based on total hip and femoral neck T-scores were also significantly higher in the patient group. The mean BMD values, frequency of osteoporosis, and low bone mass did not significantly differ according to the subtype of dementia, sex, and disease duration or severity. CONCLUSION: Our study results show that demented elders have a lower BMD and higher frequency of osteoporosis at the hip, but not at the lumbar spine, irrespective of sex and type of dementia. Based on these results, we can speculate that not only AD, but also VaD and AD-VaD may be associated with bone loss at the hip.