Older adults with more skeletal muscle mass have lower long-term odds of cardiovascular disease, a recent study has found.
Investigators analyzed this link in 3,000 Greek adults ages 45 and older with no pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Participants with the greatest skeletal muscle mass were 81% less likely to experience a cardiovascular event over a decade’s time when compared to the cohort with the least skeletal muscle mass.
The association held when well-established risk factors were considered. These included dietary habits, socioeconomic levels, smoking habits, hypertension and diabetes, wrote Stefanos Tyrovolas, Ph.D., from Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Spain.
The findings support the idea that skeletal muscle mass is an important factor when evaluating older adults for heart disease risk, including people with no pre-existing cardiovascular disease, the researchers conclude.
The study was published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
