A high presence of sarcopenia/sarcopenic obesity (40.5%) was identified in individuals post-COVID-19 and was negatively associated with health outcomes, while COVID-19 symptoms, disease severity, and duration were not associated with sarcopenia/SO diagnosis.
Key Findings
Results
The combined prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was 40.5% in individuals assessed after recovery from the first COVID-19 wave.
37 individuals were assessed (89.2% Caucasians, 64.9% females, median age 48 years [IQR: 40; 60], 10.8% >65 years)
Sarcopenic obesity alone was identified in 37.8% of participants
A single case (2.7%) of sarcopenia without obesity was found
Assessments were conducted after a median of 189 days (IQR: 169; 201) post-COVID-19 infection
Results
Sarcopenia/SO was negatively associated with 6-minute walk test performance.
The negative association was statistically significant (β: -115.35, 95% CI: -161.57 to -69.12)
The sarcopenia/SO group had lower 6MWT performance compared to those without the condition
Functional status was assessed using handgrip strength and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT)
Results
The sarcopenia/SO group had lower phase angle and higher prevalence of hypertension compared to those without sarcopenia/SO.
Phase angle was measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
Lower phase angle is a marker of unfavourable body composition and cell membrane integrity
Higher prevalence of hypertension was noted in the sarcopenia/SO group
Results
COVID-19 symptoms, disease severity, and duration were not associated with sarcopenia/SO diagnosis.
Neither COVID-19 symptom profile nor disease severity predicted sarcopenia/SO
Duration of COVID-19 illness was also not associated with sarcopenia/SO diagnosis
This suggests that sarcopenia/SO risk may not be determined by acute illness characteristics alone
Methods
The study population consisted of individuals assessed approximately six months after COVID-19 infection using multiple clinical and functional measures.
Clinical characteristics, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), functional status (handgrip strength, 6MWT), and lung function (spirometry) were collected
Median time post-infection was 189 days (IQR: 169; 201)
Sample size was 37 individuals, with a majority being Caucasian females
Montes-Ibarra M, Vieira F, Gonzalez M, Garcia-Grimaldo A, Osuna-Padilla I, Bauermann-Vieira A, et al.. (2026). Body composition and functional status in the COVID-19 recovery phase: Prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.. Clinical nutrition ESPEN. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.102877