Association of sarcopenia with a higher risk of infection in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: This study aimed to determine whether patients with type 2 diabetes and sarcopenia had a higher risk of infection. Study designs: A cross‐sectional study and a follow‐up study were performed. Method: A total of 2562 patients were enrolled and assessed for body composition and infection status. They were classified into four groups according to body fat (BF) and muscle mass index (ASMI): obese, sarcopenic, sarcopenic obese, and normal. Among these, 275 patients were followed for a median follow‐up period of 1.84 years to evaluate the relationship of changes in skeletal muscle with infection status. Results: The sarcopenic and sarcopenic obese groups showed a higher risk of infection, an increase by 49.6% (OR = 1.496, 95% CI 1.102–2.031) and 42.4% (OR = 1.424, 95% CI 1.031–1.967) compared with the normal group, and also had a higher risk of respiratory infection, an increase by 56.0% (OR = 1.560, 95% CI 1.084–2.246) and 57.4% (OR = 1.574, 95% CI 1.080–2.293), respectively. Patients with the increased ASMI (OR = 0.079, 95% CI 0.021–0.298) represented a lower risk of infection than those with the decreased ASMI. Even a minor change (OR = 0.125, 95% CI 0.041–0.378) against age was beneficial to lowering the risk of infection. However, no association was found in the changes of body mass index and BF with infection status. Conclusions: Sarcopenia, especially in patients with diabetes who are also obese, increases the risk of infection. Maintaining or improving muscle mass is expected to reduce infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]