Effect of pretransplant sarcopenia on patient and graft outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The relationship between sarcopenia and prognosis in solid organ transplantation recipients (SOTr) remains unverified. We aimed to quantify the prevalence of pretransplant sarcopenia and its effect on patient and graft survival in SOTr. We used PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to search relevant studies published in English (from inception to December 31, 2021). Prospective and retrospective cohort studies that reported the prevalence of sarcopenia before transplant or the association between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes in SOTr were included. Primary outcomes were the prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact on patient and graft survival. Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications, acute rejection, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay (ICU LOS) and early readmission. Thirty-nine studies involving 5792 patients were included. Pooled prevalence of sarcopenia amongst SOTr candidates was 40 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 34%–47 % and I2 = 97 %). Sarcopenia was associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87, 95 % CI: 1.46–2.41 and I2 = 60 %), poor graft survival (HR = 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.16–2.54 and I2 = 57 %) and increased liver graft loss (HR = 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.03–1.99 and I2 = 38 %). Patients with sarcopenia demonstrated increased incidence of perioperative complications (risk ratio [RR] = 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.17–1.53 and I2 = 40 %), long ICU LOS (mean difference = 2.31 days, 95 % CI: 0.58–4.04 and I2 = 97 %) and decreased risk of acute rejection (RR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.42–0.89 and I2 = 0 %). In Conclusion, sarcopenia is prevalent in SOTr candidates and associated with death and graft loss. Identifying sarcopenia before transplantation and intervening may improve long-term outcomes.

Keywords

• Solid organ transplantation
• Sarcopenia
• Muscle mass
• Prognosis
• Systematic review