Background: Sarcopenia is common in patients with heart failure, including those selected for a left ventricular assist device. Sarcopenia is a significant negative risk factor for the outcome in patients with a left ventricular assist device. This systematic literature review aimed to analyze the methodological approaches to the assessment of sarcopenia using functional tests in patients with left ventricular assist devices.
Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed database until the end of November 2024. We reviewed the studies based on the functional tests used to assess sarcopenia, the period of patient assessment, and the feasibility of the functional tests.
Results: We included eight studies in the review. In the selected studies, sarcopenia was assessed using various functional tests, such as hand-grip strength measurements, walking tests, Timed Up and Go Test, hand-held knee extension dynamometry, a short physical performance battery, and a Sit-to-stand test. The results of the studies examined show the importance of assessing sarcopenia using functional tests and also highlight the difficulties in performing certain functional tests in these patients. The most commonly used test with a high degree of feasibility was the hand-grip strength test.
Conclusion: The methodological approaches of the published studies are quite different. The assessment of sarcopenia in patients before or after implantation of a left ventricular assist device is based on different functional tests, the feasibility of which varies depending on the patient’s condition. Further research should identify the functional tests that are most clinically useful and feasible and that best predict patient outcome after left ventricular assist device implantation.
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