The prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Background/Aim: Rapid identification of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is crucial for clinical decision-making and healthcare management. Sarcopenia is characterized by muscle loss and increases the risks for adverse outcomes; there is limited information in the literature regarding possible links between sarcopenia and MPNs. This study evaluated the frequency of sarcopenia in patients with MPNs and investigated whether biochemical or clinical features were associated with the development of sarcopenia. Methods: Fifty-six BCR-ABL1-negative patients were included in this randomized prospective cohort research study. Muscle strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Muscle mass was evaluated using a bioelectrical-impedance analyzer, and physical performance was evaluated via gait speed in a 6-minute walking test. Results: The mean handgrip strength of the cohort was 27.7 kg, and 13 patients (23.2%) tested positive for low muscle strength. Mean muscle mass was found to be 7.58 (1.17) kg/m2, and seven patients (12.5%) exhibited low muscle mass. Three patients (5.4%) had low muscle quality. Nine patients (16.1%) were diagnosed with probable sarcopenia, and four patients (7.1%) were diagnosed with severe sarcopenia. There was no difference between the groups in terms of clinical features (P>0.05), nutritional assessment (macro and micronutrients) (P=0.959), comorbidities (P=0.476), or laboratory measurements (P>0.05). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of sarcopenia among patients with MPNs, which indicates that periodic measurements of muscle strength, body composition and physical performance may contribute to the management of MPNs.