Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis: Overlapping Risks in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) face elevated risks of sarcopenia and osteoporosis, according to a single-center retrospective study published in Nutrition. Evaluating 156 individuals diagnosed with PsA who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, the research sheds light on the overlap between muscle and bone health in this population.

Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss, was identified in 5.1% of participants, with an additional 16.7% classified as pre-sarcopenic. Patients in these groups exhibited significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and T-scores—a measure of bone density—across lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip regions. Osteoporosis rates stood at 5.7% for men and 7.5% for women.

Multivariate analysis revealed that skeletal muscle index (SMI) influenced T-scores at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, while BMI and rheumatoid factor positivity were associated with total hip T-scores. These findings underscore the interconnectedness of muscle mass, bone density, and inflammation in PsA.

“In patients with PsA, the rate of sarcopenia was 5.1%. Osteoporosis rates for males and females were 5.7% and 7.5%, respectively. SMI, T-score, and BMI are significantly correlated with each other and should be considered in clinical practice,” researchers concluded, highlighting the importance of assessing both sarcopenia and osteoporosis in patients with PsA.

Reference

Takami K, Higashiyama M, Tsuji S. Sarcopenia and osteoporosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a single-center retrospective study. Nutrition. 2025;129:112595. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2024.112595