Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of the elderly patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) complicated with sarcopenia, and to analyze the effect of sarcopenia on physical activity. Methods A total of 120 eligible inpatients were included and divided into the sarcopenia group (n=65) and the non-sarcopenia group (n=55). The general clinical data, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength, walking speed of 4 m in two groups were compared. Physical acticity decreasing was identified as 4 m walking speed less than 0.8 m/s. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of physical activity decreasing. Results In the DHF patients, 54.17% patients were complicated with sarcopenia. Compared with the non-sarcopenic group, the body mass index(BMI), tridlyceride(TG), SMI, grip strength and the walking speed of 4 m in the sarcopenia group were significantly decreased, and the age was older(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the age, cerebral infarction and SMI were independent influencing factors for decreased physical activity. Conclusions Sarcopenia is a common complication in DHF patients. Age, cerebral infarction and SMI will influence the patients’ physical activity ability, thus affecting their quality of life.

Key words: aged, diastolic heart failure, sarcopenia, physical activity