Sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case–control study in Maracaibo city, Venezuela

Several studies implicate skeletal muscle as a physio-pathological target among the metabolic disturbances of diabetes, or with the mechanisms shared by sarcopenia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study aimed to determine the relationship between sarcopenia and T2DM in outpatients of the Zulian Diabetes Institute, Maracaibo, Venezuela. A case–control study was performed on patients diagnosed with T2DM that went to the Zulian Diabetes Institute between January and June 2019. After obtaining a final sample of 131 patients with T2DM, control subjects were selected in a 1:1 ratio according to sex. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) criteria were followed to diagnose sarcopenia, so muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle performance were determined. A total of 261 patients were evaluated (131 with T2DM and 131 controls), with no differences in mean age (with T2DM 63.6 ± 9.3 vs. controls 63.6 ± 9.4 years old; p = 0.99). The prevalence of sarcopenia in control subjects was 9.9% and in subjects with diabetes 25.2%; p < 0.01; decreased muscle strength was the component with the most significant difference within the two groups (controls 16.8% vs. T2DM 49.6%; p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, subjects with worse metabolic control had a greater risk of sarcopenia (OR, 3.31; 95%CI, 1.10–9.97; p = 0.03). The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in subjects with T2DM, especially in those with worse metabolic control and normal weight status.