Increased BNP (≥ 100 pg/mL) was associated with sarcopenia even in individuals with cardiometabolic disease and no history of atrial fibrillation or symptomatic heart failure.
Sarcopenia was present in 38% of older outpatients with cardiometabolic disease and no history of heart failure or atrial fibrillation.
Natural log-transformed BNP was significantly associated with gait speed after adjusting for multiple confounders.
Natural log-transformed BNP was significantly associated with hand grip strength after adjusting for multiple confounders.
Patients with BNP ≥ 100 pg/mL had significantly increased odds of sarcopenia compared to those with lower BNP levels.
Patients with BNP ≥ 100 pg/mL had significantly increased odds of low appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI).
Patients with BNP ≥ 100 pg/mL had significantly increased odds of low handgrip strength.
BNP is associated with sarcopenia at the pre-heart failure stage in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases.
This research suggests that a heart stress marker in the blood called BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) is linked to sarcopenia — the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength — even in older people who have not yet been diagnosed with heart failure. The study looked at nearly 700 older outpatients (average age about 79) who had conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, but had no history of heart failure or an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. About 38% of these patients already had sarcopenia. Those with BNP levels of 100 pg/mL or higher were more than twice as likely to have sarcopenia, low muscle mass, and weak grip strength compared to those with lower BNP levels. These findings matter because BNP is typically used to detect or monitor heart failure, but this study shows it may also signal muscle deterioration in people who appear to have relatively healthy hearts. Higher BNP was independently associated with slower walking speed and weaker grip strength even after accounting for many other health factors like age, kidney function, and medications. This research suggests that measuring BNP in older patients with cardiometabolic conditions — even before heart failure develops — could help identify those at risk for sarcopenia. Early identification might open opportunities for targeted interventions, though further studies would be needed to determine whether lowering BNP or treating its underlying causes could also help prevent or reverse muscle loss.
Toba A, Ishikawa J, Tamura Y, Araki A, Harada K. (2026). B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Associated With Sarcopenia in Older Patients Without Symptomatic Heart Failure.. Geriatrics & gerontology international. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.70868