Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and albumin as markers of inflammation are associated with measures of sarcopenia: a cross-sectional study

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Characteristics	n	Total (n = 442)
General
Age, years	442	80.8 (6.7)
Sex, female, n (%)	442	257 (58.1)
Living independently, n (%)	421	367 (87.2)
Education, years, median [IQR]	380	10 [9–13]
Use of alcohol, n (%)	408	255 (62.5)
Current smoking, n (%)	410	43 (10.5)
Polypharmacy, n (%)*	441	257 (58.3)
Anti-inflammatory medication, n (%)†	440	36 (8.2)
Number of morbidities, median [IQR]	441	3 [2–4]
MMSE score, median [IQR]	425	26 [22–28]
Weight, kg	413	70.2 (13.5)
Height, cm	414	166.6 (9.7)
BMI, kg/m²	408	25.3 (4.2)
Hemoglobin, mmol/L	435	8.6 (0.9)
Anemia, n (%)	435	83 (19.1)
Functional status
Katz ADL score, median [IQR]	399	0 [0–1]
Use of walking aid, n (%)	408	169 (41.4)
Immobile > 1 week in last 3 months, n (%)	387	59 (15.2)
Maximal walking distance, > 1 km, n (%)	391	140 (35.8)
Fall in past year, n (%)	404	246 (60.9)
Inflammatory markers
ESR, mm/hr., median [IQR]	408	11 [6–22]
Albumin, g/L, median [IQR]	433	37.8 [35.7–39.7]
WBC count, E⁹/L, median [IQR]	442	7.2 [6.0–8.7]
Measures of sarcopenia
Gait speed, m/s	419	0.8 (0.3)
TUG test, s, median [IQR]	303	14.9 [11.5–19.0]
CST, s, median [IQR]	356	13.6 [11.4–18.6]
HGS, kg	423	22.2 (9.6)
RMM, %	68	36.7 (5.4)
ALM/height², kg/m²	68	7.1 (1.2)

All variables are presented as mean (standard deviation), unless otherwise specified
ADL Activities of daily living, ALM Appendicular lean mass, BMI Body mass index, CST Chair stand test, ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HGS Handgrip strength, IQR Interquartile range, MMSE Mini-mental state examination, RMM Relative skeletal muscle mass, TUG Timed up and go, VAS Visual analogue scale, WBC White blood cell
*Polypharmacy: use of > 4 medication
†Anti-inflammatory medication: use of prednisone, prednisolone, methotrexate, mesalazine, hydroxychloroquine, infliximab or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs

ISSN: 1471-2318