Sarcopenia and Spondyloarthritis activity and functional assessment

Background: Sarcopenia is progressive loss of muscle mass and strength; this may cause increased morbidity and mortality. Rheumatic diseases as spondyloarthropathies have greater risks of developing sarcopenia. Objectives: Assessment of sarcopenia in Egyptian patients with psoriatic arthritis (PSA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA) and investigate the relation between sarcopenia and different factors. Methods: This study included 56 PSA (Group I), 58 axSPA patients (Group II), and 60 healthy controls (Group III). Demographic data were collected, disease activity was assessed using Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score for PSA patients and ASDAS-CRP (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score) for axSPA patients. Functional assessment was done using Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) for axSPA patients and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for PSA patients. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring Muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. Results: There was no significant difference between study groups regarding age, and BMI. None of the studied patients had definite sarcopenia, twelve PSA patients (21.43%), and fifteen axSPA patients (25.86%) had probable sarcopenia. While seven PSA, and five axSPA patients had pre-sarcopenia. We found significant differences between PSA and controls regarding muscle quantity, muscle strength, and muscle performance. While we found significant differences between axSPA and controls regarding muscle strength, and muscle performance. the risk of probable sarcopenia in axSPA patients increased with increasing age and ASDAS-CRP and in PSA patients it increased with increasing age, DAPSA and HAQ. Conclusions: probable sarcopenia was significantly increased in PsA and axSPA. Our analysis suggests that age, and disease activity were associated with the development of sarcopenia in PSA and axSPA.