Sarcopenia is common in adults with complex congenital heart disease

Background: Adults with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) have reduced aerobic capacity and impaired muscle function. We therefore hypothesized that patients have a lower skeletal muscle mass and higher fat mass than controls.

Methods: Body composition was examined with full body Dual-Energy x-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in 73 patients with complex CHD (mean age 35.8 ± 14.3, women n = 22) and 73 age and sex matched controls. Patients fulfilling criteria for low skeletal muscle mass in relation to their height and fat mass were defined as sarcopenic.

Results: Male patients (n = 51) were shorter (177.4 ± 6.6 cm vs. 180.9 ± 6.7 cm, p = 0.009) and weighed less (76.0 ± 10.8 kg vs. 82.0 ± 12.4 kg, p = 0.01) than controls. Also, patients had a lower appendicular lean mass-index (ALM-index) (7.57 ± 0.97 kg/m²vs. 8.46 ± 0.90 kg/m², p < 0.001). Patients' relative tissue fat mass (27.9 ± 7.0% vs. 25.4 ± 8.6%, p = 0.1) did not differ. Forty-seven percent of the men (n = 24) were classified as sarcopenic. Female patients (n = 22) were also shorter (163.5 ± 8.7 cm vs. 166.7 ± 5.9 cm, p = 0.05) but had a higher BMI (25.7 ± 4.2 vs. 23.0 ± 2.5, p = 0.02) than controls. Patients also had a lower ALM-index (6.30 ± 0.75 vs. 6.67 ± 0.55, p = 0.05), but their relative body fat mass (40.8 ± 7.6% vs. 32.0 ± 7.0%, p < 0.001) were higher. Fifty-nine percent of the women (n = 13) were classified as sarcopenic.

Conclusions: The body composition was altered toward lower skeletal muscle mass in patients with complex CHD. Approximately half of the patients were classified as sarcopenic. Contrary to men, the women had increased body fat and a higher BMI. Further research is required to assess the cause, possible adverse long-term effects and whether sarcopenia is preventable or treatable.