Key result
AF is linked to ~3 kg lower hand grip strength and reduced muscle thickness.
Why the study?
The link between AF and lean body mass is unclear.
Is the presence of atrial fibrillation associated with worse sarcopenia indices and impaired muscle architecture?
Observational (n=610)
Yes
Is the presence of atrial fibrillation associated with worse sarcopenia indices and impaired muscle architecture?
Effect estimate: partial r = -0.137 for mean hand grip strength, p=0.014; partial r = -0.130 for max hand grip strength, p=0.02; partial r = -0.193 for phase angle, p<0.001; partial r = -0.120 for rectus femoris thickness, p=0.004; partial r = -0.119 for biceps brachii cross-sectional area, p=0.004
Absolute Event Rate: 19.9% vs 22.9%
p-value: p=<0.05 for all listed
Atrial fibrillation is independently associated with impaired muscle health, reduced muscle thickness, and lower quality of life, suggesting a link between AF and sarcopenia.
May warrant sarcopenia screening in AF patients; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective trials before practice change.
Background/aim: The link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and lean body mass is unclear. This study presents the effects of AF on sarcopenia indices, including ultrasonographic muscle architecture. Materials and methods: In this study conducted in neurology units, 72 subjects with AF (mean age: 71 ± 11years, 49% female) were compared with 538 without AF (mean age:66±12years; 53% female) in terms of sarcopenia indices [anthropometry; Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); hand grip strength (HGS); bioimpedance analysis (BIA) indices; skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) normalized to weight, height and body mass index (BMI); and phase angle (PhA)]; muscle ultrasonography [thickness, cross-section area (CSA), fiber length (fL) and pennation angle (PeA) of rectus femoris (RF), biceps brachii (BB), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus intermedius (VIM) and gastrocnemius medialis (GCM)]; possible causes of sarcopenia such as malnutrition; and consequences of sarcopenia [fall, fatigue, SarQol] along with sarcopenia screening (SARC-F). Possible associations were tested in multiple exploratory linear models, and partial r(pr) and p were reported. Results: Participants with AF exhibited significantly higher SARC-F and SarQol scores. In multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, height, and body weight, AF was independently linked to lower mean and maximum HGS (pr = –0.137, p = 0.014; pr = –0.130, p = 0.02), reduced PhA (pr = –0.193, p < 0.001), decreased RF thickness (pr = –0.120; p = 0.004), and diminished RF+VIM thickness (pr = –0.098; p = 0.019). Additional muscle ultrasound parameters, including BB-CSA, RF-CSA, BB-brachialis thickness, VL fL, and PeA and BIA indices, including SMMI(height), SMMI(weight), and SMMI(BMI), tended to be lower in AF. Conclusion: AF is linked to impaired muscle health and reduced quality of life. Management should include thigh muscle ultrasound and strategies to prevent malnutrition.
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TOPÇUOĞLU et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Adults with atrial fibrillation and neurological conditions or apparently normal older adults (n=610). Presence of atrial fibrillation vs. No atrial fibrillation was evaluated on Sarcopenia indices including muscle strength (hand grip strength), phase angle (PhA), muscle ultrasound parameters (rectus femoris thickness, biceps brachii cross-sectional area), skeletal muscle mass indices, and sarcopenia related quality of life (SarQol) (partial r = -0.137 for mean hand grip strength, p=0.014; partial r = -0.130 for max hand grip strength, p=0.02; partial r = -0.193 for phase angle, p<0.001; partial r = -0.120 for rectus femoris thickness, p=0.004; partial r = -0.119 for biceps brachii cross-sectional area, p=0.004, p=<0.05 for all listed). Atrial fibrillation was independently associated with decreased mean hand grip strength by approximately 3 kg (partial r = -0.137, p=0.014), reduced phase angle by 0.6°, and decreased rectus femoris thickness by 1.2 mm compared to controls in adults aged 23-92 in Turkiye.
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