Sarcopenia in patients with spondyloarthritis: current state of the problem

Sarcopenia in patients with spondyloarthritis: current state of the problem

K.M. Rakhmatullina¹, D.I. Abdulganieva^1,2

¹Kazan State Medical University, Kazan

²Republican Clinical Hospital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan

This literature review aims to summarize current data on the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, analyze factors contributing to its development, and discuss methodological approaches to assessing muscle mass, strength, and functional status in this population. Sarcopenia is currently considered not only an age-related phenomenon, but also a significant pathological condition that develops against the background of various chronic diseases, including immunoinflammatory ones. Decreased physical activity, systemic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and side effects of therapy contribute to progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and functional activity in this category of patients. Attention in this context should be paid to spondyloarthritis, in particular psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, in which sarcopenia remains poorly studied and often undiagnosed despite its potential impact on prognosis and quality of life. The data available in the literature on the prevalence of sarcopenia in these nosological forms is limited, and its variation is due to the heterogeneity of assessment methods and diagnostic criteria, which highlights the need for further studies.

Keywords: sarcopenia, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylarthritis, prevalence, inflammation; muscle mass.

For citation: Rakhmatullina K.M., Abdulganieva D.I. Sarcopenia in patients with spondyloarthritis: current state of the problem. RMJ. 2025;7:30–34. DOI: 10.32364/2225-2282-2025-7-6