Purpose: To investigate the relationship between different obesity phenotypes and sarcopenia in hospitalized Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 385 men. Anthropometric measurements including applied the determination method of Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) determination of limb skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and blood samples were analyzed. The people were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI) (≥ 24kg/m²) and waist circumference (WC) (female ≥ 85cm, male ≥ 90cm). Group A (BMI and WC were normal), Group B (BMI was normal and high WC), Group C (high BMI and WC were normal), and Group D (BMI and WC were abnormal).
Results: The prevalence rates of sarcopenia and abdominal obesity were 32.2% and 74.0%, respectively. The detection rate of lower ASMI decreased gradually from Group A to Group D (74.6% vs 68.3% vs 54.5% vs 51.6%, χ 2 =14.243, P=0.003). Logistic analysis showed that the risk of lower ASMI were decreased by 62.4% (95% CI: 0.149– 0.950, P = 0.039) in Group C and 68.8% (95% CI: 0.165– 0.593, P = 0.000) in Group D compared with Group A, respectively. The risk of lower ASMI were increased 4.153-fold (95% CI: 2.623– 6.576, P = 0.000) in male. Male (OR = 4.065, 95% CI: 2.246– 7.356, P = 0.000) and WC (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.004– 1.104, P = 0.033) were risk factors for lower ASMI, but the risk of lower ASMI was decreased by 32% (95% CI: 0.5744– 0.804, P = 0.000) by elevated BMI in the overweight and obese group (Group C and Group D).
Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia and abdominal obesity was elevated in han Chinese middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM. Being overweight or obesity as defined by BMI protect against sarcopenia, while abdominal obesity increases the risk of sarcopenia.
Keywords: T2DM, sarcopenia, ASMI, BMI, WC