Acute Sarcopenia: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis on Its Incidence and Muscle Parameter Shifts During Hospitalisation
2025

Acute Sarcopenia: Review of Its Incidence and Muscle Changes During Hospitalization

Sample size: 9476 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Aldrich Luke, Ispoglou Theocharis, Prokopidis Konstantinos, Alqallaf Jasem, Wilson Oliver, Stavropoulos‐Kalinoglou Antonis

Primary Institution: Leeds Beckett University

Hypothesis

What is the incidence of acute sarcopenia and how do muscle parameters change during hospitalization?

Conclusion

Acute sarcopenia is underdiagnosed during hospitalization, with an incidence of 18% and varying effects on muscle parameters.

Supporting Evidence

  • 18% of hospitalized patients developed acute sarcopenia during their stay.
  • Muscle mass and quality indices are more affected than upper limb strength or overall muscle function.
  • Handgrip strength remained stable despite significant reductions in muscle mass.
  • Muscle function tests may not be sensitive enough to detect acute changes during hospitalization.

Takeaway

When people go to the hospital, their muscles can get weaker really fast, and many don't even know it. This can make it harder for them to get better.

Methodology

The review included 88 studies, with meta-analyses on handgrip strength, rectus femoris cross-sectional area, and muscle function tests.

Potential Biases

Variability in patient demographics and hospital exposures may introduce bias in the findings.

Limitations

High heterogeneity among studies and variability in assessment methods limited the ability to draw clear conclusions.

Participant Demographics

Patients ranged from 33 to 88 years old, with a mix of medical and surgical conditions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI = −0.92:−0.43

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/jcsm.13662

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