Relationship between Osteosarcopenia and Frailty in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

• Main Authors: Chisato Saeki, Tomoya Kanai, Masanori Nakano, Tsunekazu Oikawa, Yuichi Torisu, Masahiro Abo, Masayuki Saruta, Akihito Tsubota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: chronic liver disease; osteosarcopenia; frailty; vertebral fracture
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/8/2381

Osteosarcopenia and frailty have a negative health impact on an aging society. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and relationship of osteosarcopenia and frailty in 291 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), who comprised 137 males and 154 females, with a median age of 70.0 years. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Japan Society of Hepatology criteria. Bone mineral density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Frailty was defined by five parameters (exhaustion, slowness, weakness, low physical activity, and weight loss). Among the 291 patients, 49 (16.8%) and 81 (27.8%) had osteosarcopenia and frailty, respectively. Frailty and vertebral fracture were more frequently noted in patients with osteosarcopenia than in those without osteosarcopenia (79.6% vs. 17.4% and 59.2% vs. 20.2%, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.001 for both). Meanwhile, osteosarcopenia and vertebral fracture were more frequently observed in patients with frailty than in those without frailty (48.1% vs. 4.8% and 49.4% vs. 18.1%, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.001 for both). On multivariate analysis, frailty was an independent factor associated with osteosarcopenia (odds ratio (OR), 9.837; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and vice versa (OR, 10.069; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Osteosarcopenia and frailty were prevalent, closely interrelated, and increased the risk of vertebral fracture in patients with CLD.