High prevalence of sarcopenia in Asian female patients awaiting primary total knee arthroplasty: Application of updated diagnostic tools from the Asian working group for sarcopenia.

INTRODUCTION

Sarcopenia, a loss of muscle mass and strength with aging, is associated with various TKA-related complications. In 2020, the AWGS published an undated guideline (AWGS 2019) based on studies from East and Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in Asian female patients awaiting primary total knee arthroplasty due to advanced knee osteoarthritis using the updated AWGS criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study included 138 female patients who scheduled for primary TKA with severe osteoarthritis. The included patients were assessed with use of an AWGS 2019 diagnostic criteria based on muscle strength, physical performance, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Clinical parameters related to sarcopenia were collected and knee status assessed using the Knee Society scoring system. To better define the association with age, patients were stratified into following four groups: <60, 60-69, 70-79, ≥80. The prevalence of sarcopenia was identified, and the association between sarcopenia and clinical variables was analyzed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia in this cohort according to the updated AWGS criteria was 35.5% and 21.7%. Prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia significantly increased with advancing age ( = .003, = .040, respectively). Although not statistically significant, the proportion of severe sarcopenia among sarcopenia also increased with age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower BMI and lower 25-OH-vitamin D3 level were independent risk factors associated with sarcopenia in women awaiting TKA.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study confirmed that sarcopenia is more prominent amongst female patients awaiting primary TKA than the general population. Therefore, orthopedic surgeons should consider sarcopenia prevention and intervention in this group. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of TKA on sarcopenia, and the difference of TKA outcomes between groups with or without underlying sarcopenia.