Sarcopenia risk and diabetes mellitus are independent factors for lower limb muscle strength in older patients with acute stroke: A cross-sectional study

Lower extremity (LE) muscle strength is an important factor for functional outcome in patients with stroke. However, to our knowledge, the factors influencing LE muscle strength in older patients with acute stroke have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between prestroke sarcopenia risk and comorbidities with LE muscle strength in older patients with acute stroke. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed LE muscle strength using the Motricity IUndex (MI), and prestroke sarcopenia risk using SARC-F, a questionnaire for sarcopenia. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship of MI with sarcopenia risk, neurologic deficit assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and comorbidities in these patients. We enrolled 223 patients aged 65 and over with acute stroke (127 men and 96 women; mean age 76 y). Multivariate analyses for MI after adjusting for potential confounders, NIHSS score, diabetes mellitus, and the presence of sarcopenia risk were independently and negatively associated with MI in older patients with stroke (β = –0.775, P < 0.001; β = –0109, P = 0.010; β = –0.097, P = 0.030, respectively). Prestroke sarcopenia and diabetes mellitus are associated with LE muscle strength in older patients with acute stroke, and these assessments would be useful for clinicians. •Sarcopenia risk, diabetes mellitus, and nutritional status correlated with muscle strength.•Sarcopenia risk and diabetes mellitus are independent factors for muscle strength.•Sarcopenia risk should be assessed in older patients with stroke.