Association between sarcopenia and post-stroke cognitive impairment in elderly patients with first-time acute minor ischemic stroke / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the correlation between sarcopenia and post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI)in elderly patients with first-time acute minor ischemic stroke.Methods:This was a prospective study.Elderly patients over 60 years of age with first-time acute minor ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology of the General Hospital of Western Theater Command from October 2018 to June 2019 were continuously enrolled.Patients received the SARC-F score assessment within 24h after admission and were divided into two groups according to their SARC-F scores the non-sarcopenia group(SARC-F score<4)and the sarcopenia group(SARC-F score≥4). Cognitive function was assessed by using the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)within 24 h of admission and at 3-month follow-up.Results:A total of 211 patients were enrolled in this study, including 31 patients(31/211, 14.69%)in the sarcopenia group and 180 patients(180/211, 85.31%)in the non-sarcopenia group.The incidence of PSCI was higher in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group(83.87% or 26/31 vs.55.56% or 100/180, χ2=8.814, P=0.003). The total MMSE score, orientation, immediate memory, attention, calculation and language functions were lower in the sarcopenia group compared with non-sarcopenia group( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for PSCI( OR=3.478, 95% CI 1.039-11.642, P=0.043)in the elderly with first-time acute minor ischemic stroke. Conclusions:Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for PSCI in elderly patients with first-time acute minor ischemic stroke.Sarcopenia assessment in the acute phase of stroke might help doctors to assess the risk of PSCI and reduce the incidence of PSCI in stroke patients.