Association of subtle alterations in thyroid function with presarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

AIMS\nTo investigate the association of subtle alterations in thyroid function with presarcopenia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nA total of 1,865 adult patients with T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, excluding patients with overt thyroid dysfunction. Skeletal muscle mass measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess presarcopenia. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of thyroid hormones (THs) on presarcopenia and subgroup analyses performed in different strata of age, sex and body mass index [BMI], respectively.\n\n\nRESULTS\nCompared to the euthyroid group (Euthy), subclinical hyperthyroidism group (SCHyper) had an increased odds of presarcopenia (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio [OR]) = 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-3.63), but the subclinical hypothyroidism group (SCHypo) did not (P > 0.05). In SCHyper group, age and BMI < 24kg/m2 were independent risk factors for presarcopenia. In the overall euthyroid group, an increased odds of presarcopenia was correlated with the elevated FT4/FT3 ratio (all P for trend <0.05), while not with increment in FT3 level (P for trend >0.05). Additionally, in euthyroid subgroup analyses stratified by middle-age, gender, BMI, the similar association was noted (all P for trend <0.05), but not in the older-aged patients (P for trend >0.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nSCHyper was an independent risk factor for presarcopenia in patients with T2DM, but SCHypo was not. In the Euthy group with T2DM, a high FT4/FT3 ratio was a good index of presarcopenia in addition to the elderly.