Associação entre sarcopenia e o risco de desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares em idosos: uma revisão sistemática com metanálise

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome that affects 26% of older adults and causes muscle loss, decreased strength, and decreased physical performance. It may be related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), increasing the risk of falls and frailty. With aging, changes in the cardiovascular system make older adults more susceptible to CVD, the leading cause of death according to the WHO. Studies indicate a link between sarcopenia and CVD, with muscle loss as a predictor of reduced survival and a cardiovascular risk factor. A systematic literature review was conducted, involving electronic and manual searches of five databases and gray literature to identify all studies, without time or language limitations, that answered the review question: "Is there an association between sarcopenia and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in older adults?" Study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, data analysis (meta-analysis), and evaluation Nine articles were included in this systematic review, demonstrating an association between sarcopenia and CVD in older adults. Cross-sectional studies showed a relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and ECG abnormalities, while cohort studies indicated that sarcopenia is a predictor of higher mortality and hospitalizations. The presence of sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of mortality, hospital readmissions, and severe cardiovascular abnormalities. Additionally, markers such as muscle mass loss, grip strength, and gait speed were highlighted as contributors to increased cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, new potential indicators, such as ECG abnormalities and increased IL-6 levels, were identified. These findings suggest the importance of including sarcopenia assessment in the clinical management of older adults with CVD, as well as developing preventive strategies to reduce the impact of these conditions.