What Might be More Associated with Higher or Lower Blood Pressure in Older Adults? Sarcopenia, Obesity, or Sarcopenic Obesity? A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study

Objective: In old age, body composition changes. While the muscle tissue tends to decrease, adipose tissue increases. The term sarcopenic obesity (SO) refers to a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. SO is a geriatric syndrome that has been newly defined and understood the importance. Its relationship to blood pressure is unclear. The study aims to determine which sarcopenia, obesity or SO is more associated with higher or lower blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Non-hypertensive and not receiving antihypertensive therapy patients who underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements for body composition were included in this retrospective study. Comprehensive geriatric assessment, socio-demographic and laboratory data were recorded. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People-2 criteria. Fat percentage measured by BIA was used for obesity (38% and 27% for females and males). Results: Of 167 patients with a mean age of 75.45 [+ or -] 8.12 years, 70.6% (n=121) were women. The ratios of sarcopenia, obesity and SO were 14.5% (n=24), 27.8% (n=46) and 42.4% (n=71), respectively. In the sarcopenic group, systolic blood pressure (SBP), daytime mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP) were the lowest. The obese group had the highest SBP, MAP, and the lowest daytime pulse rate (PR). SO the group had the lowest MAP at night and the highest daytime PR. After adjusting for confounders, for SO, being female, having high nighttime mean arterial pressure and high daytime PR had a higher odds ratio (respectively, OR 3.271,0.976, 1.32; p