Getting to the heart of sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease

Sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease are reported to have similar pathophysiological mechanisms, which suggests that management strategies for one could reduce the burden of the other. A variety of biomarkers linked to changes in the neuromuscular junction, endocrine systems as well as growth factors and muscle proteins have been utilised to assess and identify patients with sarcopenia or patients at risk of developing sarcopenia. Sarcopenia working groups have defined a set of consensus clinical guidelines to diagnose sarcopenia which have been commonly adopted globally. In addition, screening questionnaires have been introduced with different degrees of sensitivity and specificity to identify patients at risk of sarcopenia. Herein, we review screening and diagnosing strategies of sarcopenia as well as the different imaging modalities to quantify sarcopenia. The association of sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease are explored in terms of pathophysiological mechanisms. The effects of sarcopenia on cardiac surgery are evaluated, along with different preventive measures and treatment plans for sarcopenia.