High Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Sarcopenia and Metabolic Syndrome in Outpatients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to investigate the percentages, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study enrolled 225 MDD outpatients based on DSM-V and age- and sex-matched health controls (HCs). Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia diagnostic criteria. Three psychometric scales and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment were used to evaluate the severities of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms and cognitive function, respectively. Binary logistic regression models were used to investigate the risk factors of the two disorders. MDD subjects had significantly higher percentages of sarcopenia (41.3% vs 15.6%), MetS (40.9% vs 28.9%), and sarcopenia and/or MetS (68.9% vs 40.4%) than HCs. For elderly MDD subjects, 89.3% suffered from sarcopenia and/or MetS. MDD subjects had higher unqualified percentages in handgrip strength and three physical performance tests than HCs. MDD subjects with sarcopenia had worse depression than those without. MDD subjects with MetS had poorer cognitive function than those without. MDD subjects with only sarcopenia had worse mood symptoms than those with only MetS. After controlling for age and other variables, full remission of depression decreased the risk of sarcopenia. Being overweight decreased and increased the risk of sarcopenia and MetS, respectively. Most MDD outpatients, especially elderly outpatients, suffered from sarcopenia and/or MetS. The two disorders should be screened in MDD patients. Treatment of depression might decrease the risk of sarcopenia.