OBJECTIVE

The study was to investigate the features of carotid arteries atherosclerosis as the leading risk factor for atherothrombotic stroke in elderly patients depending on the presence of sarcopenia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

2 groups of patients above the working age were examined: 110 patients with normal muscle mass and 24 suffering sarcopenia. Ultrasound examination of carotid and vertebral arteries extracranial segments was performed with an assessment of atherosclerotic changes severity, atherosclerotic plaques instability, 10-year risk of stroke (according to Framingham risk score) and a 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (SCORE risk scale).

RESULTS

10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease was 3 [2; 5] points for patients without sarcopenia, 3 [2; 3] points for patients with sarcopenia (p=0.81). The 10-year risk of stroke was 16 [12; 18] for patients without sarcopenia, 18 [15; 22] points for patients with sarcopenia (p=0.1). Due to the ultrasound examination data the incidence of carotid arteries atherosclerotic lesions in patients without sarcopenia was 50 (46.3%), in patients with sarcopenia — 18 (75.0%) (p=0.01). Statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in the atherosclerotic plaques instability signs was revealed in patients suffering sarcopenia compared to those without it: heterogeneous echotexture — 66.7% cases versus 38.2% (p=0.01), presence of hypoechoic masses — 41.7% patients vs 12.7% (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

It is important to take into account not only traditional risk factors in the overall assessment of cardiovascular risk as well as therapeutic and preventive measures planning in elderly patients, but also pay attention to body composition since modern diagnostic systems may be not sensitive enough to identify high-risk patients with comorbid atherosclerosis and sarcopenia.