Feasibility of Sarcopenia Assessment and Association With Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Purpose: The primary aim was to report feasibility of sarcopenia assessment within 7 days of ischemic stroke. Secondary aims were to estimate prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with functional outcome after stroke. Method: Participants, ischemic stroke survivors from two hospital acute stroke units, underwent sarcopenia assessment steps using the revised European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP-2) guidelines within 7 days after stroke. Functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]) was assessed 4–6 months post-stroke. Assessment steps were feasible if all participants completed them without serious adverse events. Ordinal regression was used to assess mRS associations at 4–6 months (dependent variable) with grip strength and muscle mass during the acute phase post-stroke (independent variables). Results: All 47 participants completed bioelectrical impedance analyses (BIA) and grip strength with at least the non-stroke affected side without serious adverse events. Six and five participants did not complete chair-rise and gait speed tests, respectively. Four participants (9%) met criteria for sarcopenia. Higher grip strength was independently associated with reduced odds of higher mRS scores. Conclusions: Grip strength and BIA assessments using the EWGSOP-2 guidelines were feasible. Skeletal muscle strength may be an intervention target to improve functional outcome after stroke.