Associations of Dynapenic Obesity and Sarcopenic Obesity with the Risk of Complications in COVID-19

Ageing is associated with changes in body composition, such as low muscle mass (sarcopenia), decreased grip strength or physical function (dynapenia), and accumulation of fat mass. When the accumulation of fat mass synergistically accompanies low muscle mass or reduced grip strength, it results in sarcopenic obesity and dynapenic obesity, respectively. These types of obesity contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the elderly, which could increase the damage caused by COVID-19. In this review, we associated factors that could generate a higher risk of COVID-19 complications in dynapenic obesity and sarcopenic obesity. For example, skeletal muscle regulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines and supports metabolic stress in pulmonary disease; hence, the presence of dynapenic obesity or sarcopenic obesity could be related to a poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients.

Automated summary

Ageing is associated with changes in body composition, such as low muscle mass and accumulation of fat mass. These types of obesity, known as sarcopenic obesity and dynapenic obesity, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the elderly, and may worsen the damage caused by COVID-19. Factors such as inflammation and metabolic stress play a role in the poor prognosis of COVID-19 patients with dynapenic obesity or sarcopenic obesity.