SynthesisBMC geriatrics2025
Sex-stratified handgrip strength and adipose-derived inflammatory biomarkers in sarcopenia - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Consensus-Defined Sarcopenic Obesity and a Related Dynapenic Obesity Phenotype in Relation to Early Cognitive Impairment.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2026Article
- Trajectories of grip strength decline and risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease: evidence from the HRS and ELSA cohorts.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSarcopenia involves a progressive loss of muscle function, with inflammation regarded as a potential contributing factor. The sex-specific relationship between adipose-derived inflammatory biomarkers and muscle function outcomes remains unclear.
methodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library (2015-2024) with no language restrictions for observational studies reporting handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed (GS), and circulating TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, IL-8, or IL-10 in adults with and without sarcopenia. Random-effects models (R version 4.4.2, meta package) pooled mean differences for HGS and GS and standardised mean differences for biomarkers. Heterogeneity (I², τ², prediction intervals) was explored through subgroup analyses, meta-regression, sensitivity and influence diagnostics, and funnel/contour-enhanced plots. Certainty of evidence was assessed with GRADE.
resultsThirty-six studies (n ≈ 8,200; predominantly cross-sectional) were included. Sarcopenia was associated with lower HGS (MD - 3.97 kg; 95% CI - 6.95 to - 1.00; I² = 93%), while GS showed no significant difference (MD - 0.15 m/s; 95% CI - 0.41 to 0.11; I² = 97.9%). In sex-stratified analyses of HGS (exploratory; k = 2 per stratum), women and men each showed directionally lower strength, but estimates were imprecise and not statistically significant. Among circulating biomarkers, TNF-α was directionally higher in pooled analyses but did not reach statistical significance, and between-study heterogeneity was substantial (SMD 0.40; 95% CI - 0.35 to 1.15; I² = 98.5%). CRP, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 showed no consistent between-group differences.
conclusionsSex-stratified handgrip strength may aid sarcopenia screening and risk stratification, with larger deficits observed in women in cross-sectional data. Pooled analyses showed a slight, imprecise elevation of TNF-α in sarcopenia, while CRP, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 showed no consistent differences. These findings support sex-aware assessment but do not permit causal inferences or treatment recommendations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.