To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia in ambulatory patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and its relation to reduced exercise capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life (QoL). A total of 117 symptomatic outpatients with HFpEF were prospectively enrolled in Germany, England, and Slovenia as part of the Studies Investigating Co-morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure (SICA-HF). Appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass (the sum of muscle mass in both arms and legs) was assessed by DEXA. Echocardiography, 6-minute walk testing (6-MWT), muscle strength assessment, spiroergometry and QoL evaluation using EQ-5D Questionnaire were performed. Sarcopenia was defined as ASM 2 standard deviations below the mean of a healthy reference group aged 18-40years. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the E/e' value: ≤8, 9-14, and ≥15. Sarcopenia was detected in 19.7% of all patients. These patients performed worse during 6-MWT (404±116 vs. 307±145m, p=0.003) and showed lower absolute peak oxygen consumption (1579±474 vs. 1211±442mL/min, p15 (p<0.05). Higher values of muscle strength/ASM were associated with a better QoL (r=0.5, p<0.0005). Logistic regression showed ASM to be independently associated with reduced distance walked during the 6-MWT adjusted for NYHA, height, left atrium diameter, ferritin and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) (odds ratio 1.2, p=0.02). Sarcopenia affects a clinically relevant proportion of patients with HFpEF. Low ASM is strongly linked to reduced muscle strength, exercise capacity and QoL in these patients.

Whether obesity is associated with a better prognosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is controversial. To investigate the association between body weight and prognosis in a large cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes followed for a prolonged period. Prospective cohort. National Health Service, England. Patients with diabetes. The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and prognosis in patients with type 2 diabetes without known cardiovascular disease at baseline was investigated. Information on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular morbidity (such as the acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accidents, and heart failure) was collected. Cox regression survival analysis, corrected for potential modifiers, including cardiovascular risk factors and comorbid conditions (such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and lung disease), was done. 10 568 patients were followed for a median of 10.6 years (interquartile range, 7.8 to 13.4). Median age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55 to 71), and 54% of patients were men. Overweight or obese patients (BMI >25 kg/m²) had a higher rate of cardiac events (such as the acute coronary syndrome and heart failure) than those of normal weight (BMI, 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m²). However, being overweight (BMI, 25 to 29.9 kg/m²) was associated with a lower mortality risk, whereas obese patients (BMI >30 kg/m²) had a mortality risk similar to that of normal-weight persons. Patients with low body weight had the worst prognosis. Data about cause of death were not available. In this cohort, patients with type 2 diabetes who were overweight or obese were more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons. Being overweight was associated with a lower mortality risk, but being obese was not. National Institute for Health Research and University of Hull.

Luna Gargani, Nicolas Girerd, Elke Platz, Pierpaolo Pellicori, Ivan Stankovic, Alberto Palazzuoli, Emanuele Pivetta, Marcelo Haertel Miglioranza, Hatem Soliman-