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Association between sarcopenia and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

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AbstractSection Aim

To summarize the prevalence of diabetes in people with sarcopenia (and vice versa) through a meta-analytic approach of available observational studies.

AbstractSection Findings

In this work, we have presented the findings of the first full methodological systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies exploring the relationship between diabetes and sarcopenia. Our findings overall emphasize the reciprocal relationship between diabetes and sarcopenia in terms of risk of occurrence, that is sarcopenia increases the risk of diabetes being present and vice versa.

AbstractSection Message

This study provides support for further research into the prognosis of people with both diabetes and sarcopenia and the value of interventional strategies in sarcopenia to minimize adverse outcomes such as premature death, hospitalization, and disability.

Abstract

Purpose

Sarcopenia and diabetes are two common conditions in older people. Some recent literature has proposed that these two conditions can be associated. However, to date, no attempt has been made to collate this literature. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the prevalence of sarcopenia in diabetes (and vice versa) and the prevalence of sarcopenia in people with diabetes complications, through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Two authors searched major electronic databases from inception until March 2019 for case control/cross-sectional/longitudinal studies investigating sarcopenia and diabetes. The strength of the reciprocal associations between sarcopenia and diabetes was assessed through odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for potential confounders, where possible.

Results

From 953 potential eligible articles, 20 were included in the systematic review, with 17 providing data for meta-analysis. Overall, 54,676 participants were included (mean age = 65.4 years). Diabetic participants had an increased prevalence of sarcopenia compared to controls (n = 10; OR = 1.635; 95% CI 1.204–2.220; p = 0.002; I2 = 67%), whilst, after adjusting for potential confounders, sarcopenia was associated with an increased odds of having diabetes (OR = 2.067; 95% CI 1.396–3.624; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%). In 1868 diabetic participants with a complication, there was an increased prevalence of sarcopenia (OR = 2.446; 95% CI 1.839–3.254; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%), as compared with those with no complication. Very limited data existed regarding studies with a longitudinal design.

Conclusions

Our study suggests a bidirectional association between diabetes and sarcopenia, particularly when diabetic complications are present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch. Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Nicola Veronese & Stefania Maggi

  2. Operational Research Unit, Doctors with Africa, Dar es Salaam, Mozambique

    Damiano Pizzol

  3. Primary Care Department, Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est, 58100, Grosseto, Italy

    Jacopo Demurtas

  4. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pinar Soysal

  5. The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK

    Lee Smith

  6. Institute for Biomedicine of Ageing (IBA), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 90408, Nuremberg, Germany

    Cornel Sieber

  7. University of Helsinki, Clinicum and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Timo Strandberg

  8. Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Timo Strandberg

  9. CNRS, University of Bordeaux, RMSB, Bordeaux, France

    Isabelle Bourdel-Marchasson

  10. Pôle de Gérontologie Clinique, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Isabelle Bourdel-Marchasson

  11. Diabetes Frail Ltd and King’s College, London, UK

    Alan Sinclair

  12. Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Section of Geriatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Mirko Petrovic

Authors
  1. Nicola Veronese
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  2. Damiano Pizzol
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  3. Jacopo Demurtas
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  4. Pinar Soysal
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  5. Lee Smith
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  6. Cornel Sieber
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  7. Timo Strandberg
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  8. Isabelle Bourdel-Marchasson
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  9. Alan Sinclair
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  10. Mirko Petrovic
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  11. Stefania Maggi
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on behalf of the Special Interest Groups of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Healthy Ageing, Diabetes, Sarcopenia of European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS)

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Correspondence to Nicola Veronese.

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Veronese, N., Pizzol, D., Demurtas, J. et al. Association between sarcopenia and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur Geriatr Med 10, 685–696 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-019-00216-x

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