Inflammation-related indices and low physical performance in older adults with unintentional weight loss: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is characterized by age-related loss of muscle mass and function and is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging). Novel inflammation- based indices – including the Uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR), Monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR), Triglyceride to HDL ratio (THR), C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR), CRP to HDL ratio (CHR), and Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) – have emerged as markers of inflammaging. This study investigated the relationship between these inflammatory parameters and Low Physical Performance (LPP) in older adults. METHODS: 490 patients aged 65 years and older who applied to the geriatric medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital with complaints of weight loss were evaluated retrospectively cross-sectionally (2022–2023). LPP was assessed by SARC-F questionnaire, handgrip strength test (HGST), and the 5 times-sit-to-stand-test (STST), and patients were grouped into Low Physical Performance (LPP, n = 259) or Normal Physical Performance (NPP, n = 231) based on these criteria. UHR, MHR, THR, CAR, CHR, and SII were calculated from laboratory values. Group differences in demographics, comorbidities, geriatric assessment scores, and these inflammatory markers were analyzed. The correlations between new inflammatory markers and standard inflammatory indicators (CRP, neutrophil) were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the ability of each parameter to discriminate LPP. RESULTS: The LPP group was older than NPP (median 76 vs 71 years, p