Prevalence and risk factors of Cognitive dysfunction -associated Sarcopenia：A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Even though sarcopenia and cognitive dysfunction(including mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)) have an impact on each other, there is limited evidence regarding their correlation. Moreover, we currently lack information about the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction-related sarcopenia. Therefore, our objective was to conduct a systematic search to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia among individuals with cognitive disabilities. Additionally, we aimed to consolidate the overall prevalence rate of cognitive dysfunction-related sarcopenia by considering various factors such as age, country, and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. Methods To achieve this goal, we performed a thorough search of several databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The search concluded on December 31, 2022, with the inclusion of studies that reported the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with cognitive dysfunction. We then conducted a meta-analysis using all the collected data. All the statistical analyses were carried out using the STATA 15.0 version software. Results A total of 1,870 articles were initially evaluated. Eventually, 12 articles were included in our study[1–12]. The cumulative sample size across all the included studies amounted to 3,975 participants. All 12 studies employed a cross-sectional design. Consequently, the combined prevalence rate was estimated to be 16.96% (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.122 to 0.278), displaying considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 98.17%).Regarding the sample of patients with MCI and sarcopenia, the prevalence of MCI patients with sarcopenia was found to be 10.24% (95%CI: 0.44 − 0.209). Moreover, within the sample of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with sarcopenia, the pooled prevalence of AD individuals with sarcopenia was determined to be 21.09% (95%CI: 0.131–0.299). Conclusions Our findings highlight the frequent occurrence of sarcopenia among individuals with cognitive dysfunction, and the prevalence of sarcopenia appears to vary according to the degree of cognitive dysfunction. These results hold significance as they provide valuable insights for researchers planning studies on sarcopenia within this population. Urgent attention should be given to conducting longitudinal studies that focus on sarcopenia and its outcomes in patients with cognitive dysfunction.