Background and objectives

Elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are at high risk of malnutri-tion and sarcopenia. Therefore, nutritional screening, assessment, diagnosis, and management are particularly crucial for elderly CHF patients. Our study aims to investigate the nutritional status and the incidence charac-teristics and influencing factors of sarcopenia in elderly CHF patients.

Methods and study design

A total of 122 elderly CHF patients admitted to The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2023 to January 2024 were enrolled. Within 24 hours after admission, demographic data, body composition analysis, nutritional status assessments, and laboratory parameter testing were conducted for all participants. Patients were divided into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups.

Results

A total of 122 patients were included, among whom 37 (30.33 %) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in sarcopenia group (p < 0.05). Patients with sarcopenia exhibited lower levels of albumin and hemoglobin, along with elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte-Ratio (NLR), and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte-Ratio (PLR) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the sarcope-nia group showed reduced fat-free mass, muscle mass, upper arm circumference, Phase Angle, and grip strength (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI, protein, mineral, and triceps skinfold thickness were protective factors for sarcopenia in elderly CHF patients, after adjusting for con-founding factors.

Conclusions

Elderly CHF patients exhibit a higher risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia. There exists a correlation between age/BMI/protein/mineral and sarcopenia. The presence of sarcopenia cor-relates with poorer body composition outcomes and elevated inflammatory markers.