Association between skeletal muscle mass and radial augmentation index in an elderly Korean population

Increasing evidence supports the importance of maintaining skeletal muscle mass for cardiovascular health. However, there is limited data on the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and arterial stiffness targeting an elderly population. Thus, we investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass and arterial stiffness in an elderly Korean population. This study used data from the Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project which started in 2011. In this cross-sectional study, 180 men (mean age 71.7) and 247 women (mean age 70.9) were included. Arm and leg muscle masses were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Radial augmentation index, a noninvasive measure of arterial stiffness, was assessed by radial pulse wave analysis. The relationship between skeletal muscle mass and augmentation index was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. In men, limb muscle mass was significantly and inversely associated with augmentation index (β = −1.07% per 1 kg muscle mass, p < 0.001) when adjusted for age. This inverse association remained after additional adjustment for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, smoking and alcohol intake (β = −0.69%, p = 0.019). In women, the inverse association between limb muscle mass and augmentation index was less prominent (β = −0.59%, p = 0.030), and the association disappeared when fully adjusted (β = −0.32%, p = 0.304). However, limb muscle mass was not associated with resting blood pressure either in men or women. Our results suggest that decreased skeletal muscle mass may affect arterial wall elasticity.