Approved Research

Integration of Clinical, Imaging, and Genetic Data to Explore the Association between Sarcopenic Obesity and Selected Chronic Diseases, as well as the Role of Lifestyle Factors

Lay summary

The coexistence of obesity and sarcopenia leads to sarcopenic obesity (SO), a clinical condition associated with rapid functional decline and an increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality. SO may contribute to the development of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Additionally, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are more susceptible to sarcopenia/cachexia, which share common inflammatory pathways and are related to ageing. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the association between SO and selected chronic diseases, it is necessary to explore this relationship from multiple angles, providing valuable evidence for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The goal of this project is to examine the association between sarcopenia/sarcopenic obesity and chronic diseases (e.g., chronic lung disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) through prospective investigations, as well as the impact of lifestyle, physical, and health status on the progression and mechanisms of these diseases, and to explore their impact on health outcomes (e.g., disease incidence, deaths, imaging characteristics, biomarkers).

Appropriate statistical methods will be used to examine associations between exposures, outcomes, and modifiers/covariates. Logistic regression or Cox proportional hazards regression models will be used to assess the relationship between lifestyle factors and outcome, adjusting for potential confounders, to determining hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Interaction analyses will be performed to explore effect modification by certain modifiers/covariates. Subgroup analyses will be performed to assess the robustness and generalizability of the study results.

Over a 36-month period, our goal is to identify the associations and influences of sarcopenia with chronic disease. The results of the study will help to extend the healthy lifespan of adults, improve the quality of life of the public and reduce the economic burden of disease.