[Liver Fibrosis is Associated with Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with No History of Liver Diseases].

In this study, we aimed to examine the possible association between liver fibrosis and loss of skeletal muscle mass (SM) in community-dwelling older adults with no history of liver diseases. A total of 2,028 older adults (mean age, 69.8 ± 5.2 years) who had not received any treatment for liver diseases and had participated in a comprehensive health survey for community residents in Wakayama, Japan were included in this study. We carried out bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate the SM of the whole body including the arms, legs, and trunk of the subjects. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by calculating the Fib4 index based on the subject's age, AST level, ALT level, and platelet counts. The subjects were divided into three groups according to cutoff values of the Fib4 index (low: <1.30, medium: 1.30-2.66, high: ≥2.67). The SM index (kg/m The present findings suggest that the potential progression of liver fibrosis is associated with the excessive loss of SM among apparently healthy older adults without any treatment for liver diseases.