A preliminary study to identify the likely risk for sarcopenia in older hospitalised patients with cardiovascular disease in Vietnam

Objective To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia, its associated factors and its impact on readmission in older hospitalised patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Vietnam. Methods Patients aged ≥60 with CVD were recruited from 12/2018 to 6/2019 at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. Sarcopenia was defined by the criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Results There were 251 participants, with a mean age of 73.7 ± 8.8, 39.4% were female, and 34.3% had sarcopenia. On multivariable logistic regression, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and being currently unmarried were significantly associated with sarcopenia. The incidence of 5‐month readmission was 35.7% (50.0% in sarcopenic participants and 27.9% in non‐sarcopenic participants, P = .001). Sarcopenia independently increased the risk of readmission (adjusted OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.08‐4.42). Conclusion Sarcopenia was present in one‐third of older hospitalised patients with CVD and increased their risk of readmission. This finding suggests the need to raise awareness of sarcopenia among clinicians and older patients in Vietnam.