R. Calvani, F. Marini, M. Cesari, M. Tosato, A. Picca, S.D. Anker, S. von Haehling, R.R. Miller, R. Bernabei, F. Landi, E. Marzetti, For the SPRINTT Consortium
Aging Clin Exp Res Epub 2017 Feb 10
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Physical frailty (PF) and sarcopenia are major health issues in geriatric populations, given their high prevalence and association with several adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, the lack of an univocal operational definition for the two conditions has so far hampered their clinical implementation. Existing definitional ambiguities of PF and sarcopenia, together with their complex underlying pathophysiology, also account for the absence of robust biomarkers that can be used for screening, diagnostic and/or prognostication purposes. This review provides an overview of currently available biological markers for PF and sarcopenia, as well as a critical appraisal of strengths and weaknesses of traditional procedures for biomarker development in the field. A novel approach for biomarker identification and validation, based on multivariate methodologies, is also discussed.
Comment: Biomarkers identified through the implementation of multivariate strategies may be used to support the detection of the two conditions, track their progression over time or in response to interventions, and reveal the onset of complications (e.g., mobility disability) at a very early stage.