Associations of swallowing-related muscle quantity and quality with sarcopenic parameters

Key summary points Aim To elucidate the relationship between swallowing-related muscle characteristics and sarcopenic parameters in community-dwelling older adults. Findings The cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle was significantly associated with the grip strength, and tongue characteristics were significantly associated with the skeletal muscle mass index. Sarcopenic parameters were associated with swallowing-related muscle characteristics. Message This research may increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of sarcopenic dysphagia and muscle physiology. Purpose To examine the associations between swallowing-related muscle characteristics and sarcopenic parameters. Methods We included 147 community-dwelling older adults (age: 71.6 ± 4.7 years, body mass index: 23.0 ± 2.7 kg/m 2 (mean ± standard deviation), men: 50; women: 97) and categorized them into robust ( n = 125), low-function ( n = 17), and sarcopenia ( n = 5) groups based on the diagnostic criteria of the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. We evaluated the geniohyoid muscle (GHM) and tongue characteristics (muscle quantity and quality). The cross-sectional area (CSA) indicated the muscle quantity, and echo intensity (EI) values indicated the muscle quality. A multiple regression analysis was performed to clarify the relationship of swallowing-related muscle characteristics and strength with sarcopenic parameters. Results The grip strength (CSA of GHM: β = 1.64, p = 0.03) and skeletal muscle mass index (CSA of tongue: β = 74.81, p = 0.003, EI of tongue: β = 1.92, p = 0.009) were better indicators of swallowing-related muscle characteristics. Conclusion These findings may facilitate the early detection of aging-related deterioration in swallowing-related musculature through the diagnostic process of sarcopenia and increase our understanding of muscle physiology.