A cross-sectional study: Associations between sarcopenia and clinical characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome and it impairs physical function. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at a higher risk of sarcopenia. The purpose of this study is to explore characteristics of general information and metabolic factors of sarcopenia in patients with T2DM in the northeast of China, and provide information for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia in clinical practice. Patients with T2DM aged ≥65 were recruited in Changchun from March 2017 to February 2018. Questionnaires of general information, physical examination, laboratory and imaging examination were conducted. The patients were assigned into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by Asian working group for sarcopenia (AWGS), and the differences between 2 groups were analyzed. A total of 132 participants were included in this study, of which, 38 (28.8%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. 94 (71.2%) were with no sarcopenia. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR: 1.182, 95%CI: 1.038–1.346), trunk fat mass (TFM) (OR: 1.499, 95%CI: 1.146–1.960) and free thyroxine (FT4) (OR: 1.342, 95%CI: 1.102–1.635) were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. BMI (body mass index) (OR: 0.365, 95%CI: 0.236–0.661), exercise (OR: 0.016, 95%CI: 0.001–0.169), female (OR: 0.000, 95%CI: 0.00–0.012), metformin (OR: 0.159, 95%CI: 0.026–0.967) and TSM (trunk skeletal muscle mass) (OR: 0.395, 95%CI: 0.236–0.661) were protective factors for sarcopenia. Sarcopenia in patients with T2DM is associated with increased age, increased TFM and increased FT4 level. Regular exercise, female, metformin administrations, high BMI and increased TSM are associated with lower risk of sarcopenia.