Analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of plasma sTNFr-2 concentrations in identifying sarcopenia in community-dwelling older women.

While the potential of immunological biomarkers as an alternative to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of sarcopenia has been explored, there are still few studies evaluating their diagnostic accuracy. Specific biomarkers and diagnostic cutoff points remain unknown. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to verify the association between sarcopenia and a panel of inflammatory biomarkers and to investigate the diagnostic accuracy to propose cutoff points for this assessment. Accordance with EWGSOP2 guidelines, 71 community-dwelling older women participated in the study and were assessed for sarcopenia diagnosis. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), a Jamar dynamometer, and the Short Physical Performance Battery were used for diagnosis and classification of sarcopenia. A panel of biomarkers, including adiponectin, BDNF, IFN, IL-2, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, leptin, resistin, TNF-α, and their soluble type 1 and 2 receptors, was measured using ELISA and flow cytometry. The associations between sarcopenia and a panel of biomarkers were verified by logistic regression analysis, and the cutoff points were determined using the ROC curve and Youden index. The sTNFr-2 was significantly associated with sarcopenia, showed good diagnostic accuracy and the optimal discriminatory cutoff point (AUC = 0.75) found was 2280 pg/ml in community-dwelling older women. These results provide valuable insights for the diagnosis, monitoring and understanding of the pathophysiology of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older women.