Sarcopenia assessed using bioimpedance analysis is associated independently with significant liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases

Aim Sarcopenia is common in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. We investigated the correlation between sarcopenia and other clinical variables, in particular, significant liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Patients and methods Patients with CLDs who underwent transient elastography (TE) and bioelectrical impedance analysis between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively recruited. The sarcopenia index (SI) was calculated as follows: SI = total appendicular skeletal muscle mass (kg)/ body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2). Sarcopenia was defined as SI less than 0.789 for men and less than 0.521 for women. Significant liver fibrosis and fatty liver were defined using TE liver stiffness value more than 7 kPa and controlled attenuation parameter more than 250 dB/m, respectively. Results Of 2168 patients recruited, 218 (10.1%) had sarcopenia. Age, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, fasting glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, and liver stiffness value were correlated positively with sarcopenia (all P  25 kg/m2), total bilirubin, and serum albumin were correlated negatively with sarcopenia (all P 
Source: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original Articles: Hepatology Source Type: research