O015 - A COMPOSITE MUSCLE–FRAILTY SCORE IS INDEPENDENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH VERTEBRAL ARTERY HEMODYNAMICS IN OLDER ADULTS

O015

A COMPOSITE MUSCLE–FRAILTY SCORE IS INDEPENDENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH VERTEBRAL ARTERY HEMODYNAMICS IN OLDER ADULTS

O. Gumuscubuk^1,*, A. Temel², V. Atmis¹, Y. Kinaci Gumuscubuk³, O. Ulusoy², P. Ari⁴, V. Aykac⁵, S. Demirer⁶

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, ²Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, ³Department of Public Health, Division of Occupational Health and Occupational Diseases, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, ⁴Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye, ⁵Department of General Surgery and Clinical Nutrition, Charite Berlin University Faculty of Medicine, Berlin, Germany, ⁶Department of General Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: To investigate the association between a composite muscle–frailty score and vertebral artery hemodynamics in older adults.

Methods: This complete-case analysis used prospective data from older adults with available bioimpedance, handgrip strength (HGS), and vertebral artery Doppler ultrasonography. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and phase angle (PhA) were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, HGS by dynamometry, and frailty by the FRAIL scale. A composite score (0–4) was constructed by assigning 1 point each for low SMI, low PhA, low HGS, and non-robust status (pre-frailty/frailty). Vertebral artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) and flow were averaged bilaterally. Multivariable linear regression was adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and BMI. ROC analysis evaluated discrimination for high vertebral PSV (upper tertile).

Results: A total of 126 participants (72.6±5.5 years; 40.2% male) were included. The composite score was independently associated with mean PSV (B=5.12, 95% CI 2.01–8.21, p=0.002). Mean PSV increased from 50.5 cm/s in participants with a score of 0 to 62.4 cm/s in those with a score of 4. The score was also associated with mean flow (B=11.63, 95% CI 2.05–21.21, p=0.018). ROC analysis showed moderate discrimination for high PSV (AUC=0.661), with an optimal cut-off of ≥2. In adjusted logistic regression, each 1-point increase was associated with higher odds of high PSV (OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.43–3.95, p=0.001). Sex-stratified analyses showed similar effect sizes in women (B=4.79, p=0.018) and men (B=5.44, p=0.051).

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Conclusion: A composite score reflecting cumulative muscle and frailty impairment was independently associated with vertebral artery hemodynamics in older adults. These findings suggest that muscle–frailty deficits, reflecting impaired nutritional and functional status, may be linked to altered vertebral artery hemodynamic profiles in aging.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared