Smoking and cigarette exposure effect on sarcopenia

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle function. If left untreated, it causes severe social and economic burdens. It is an issue that has gained importance with the increase in the elderly population in the world. In this study, the effect of smoking and cigarette exposure on sarcopenia was investigated. Material and Method: In our study, 261 patients who were followed up at Akdeniz University Urology and Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic and underwent non-contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) between 2019 and 2022 were found from the hospital database. Patients were divided into three equal groups as smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers. Those who are under the age of eighteen, have a history of active infection, diagnosis of malignancy, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, diagnosis of rheumatological / inflammatory disease with chronic inflammation, pregnancy, drugs that have a potential impact on body composition (such as diuretics, corticosteroids). Patients with medical conditions that affect thyroid function tests (such as beta blockers, amiodarone) were excluded from the study. This study was planned to reveal whether smoke exposure are related to sarcopenia through Psoas Muscle Index (PMI) in these patients evaluated with non-contrast CT abdominal. Results: 261 patients were included in the study. The average age of non-smokers was 45±9.9, passive smokers 43.3±9.9, and active smokers 45.7±9.8. 41 of the non-smokers were women (47.1%), 46 were men (52.9%), and 41 of the passive smokers were women (47.1%) 46 of them were men (52.9%), 28 of the active smokers were women (32.2%) and 59 were men (67.8%). Albumin, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) values did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between the non-smoker, passive and active smoker groups. TPA value did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between non-smoker, passive and active smoker groups. PMI value did not show a significant difference (p>0.05) between non-smoker, passive and active smoker groups. Sarcopenia was found in 12 women (29%), 24 men (52%) who were non-smokers, 17 men (36.9%), 20 women (48.7%) who were passive smokers, and 25 men (42.3%) who were active smokers and 9 women (32%). There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the groups in terms of sarcopenia. Conclusion: In conclusion; In our study, PMI did not show any significant difference in groups with different cigarette exposure. Although smoking has many harmful effects on the body, its effects on sarcopenia are still a matter of significant debate and there is no clear consensus on this issue in the literature. There is undoubtedly a need for more research on this subject.