Association between C-Reactive Protein and sarcopenia parameters in a group of individuals aged 60 and above in Yaoundé: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder, most often age-related. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers have been linked to muscle loss. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between CRP and sarcopenia parameters in individuals aged 60 years and above.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥ 60 years. CRP was measured using sandwich immunofluorescence, with a cut-off value set at 10 mg/L. Bivariate analysis was used to explore possible correlations between CRP and sarcopenia markers with a significant p-value < 0.05.

Results: A total of 41 participants were included, the majority being women (73.2%). The mean age was 70.5 ± 7.2 years. Inflammation was present in six participants, and the median CRP concentration was 3.5 (2.5 – 7.3) mg/L in the study population. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 34.1% and was significantly higher among participants with marked inflammation. Moreover, these participants had lower muscle strength (P = 0.025) and lower SPPB scores (P = 0.032) compared to those with normal CRP levels. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between serum CRP values and muscle strength (r = –0.314; P = 0.045).

Conclusion: Sarcopenia is common in this group of older adults. Larger-scale studies would help to better establish its association with inflammation in our setting.