Abstract
Background: A progressive disorder associated with aging, marked by a reduction in skeletal muscle mass known Sarcopenia, strength, and physical performance. When combined with obesity, the condition referred to as sarcopenic obesity is associated with worse clinical and metabolic outcomes. Identifying reliable circulating biomarkers is essential for early detection and risk stratification.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of circulating C-terminal agrin fragment (CAF22) and its association with lipid profile parameters in patients with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.
Methods: A case–control study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq, including 118 participants (68 patients with sarcopenia and 50 healthy controls). The disease identified depending on criteria named as EWGSOP2. Muscle strength, physical performance, and body composition were assessed using handgrip strength, gait speed, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Serum CAF22 and lipid profile parameters were measured using standardized laboratory methods. Statistical analyses included group comparisons, correlation analysis,. and analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve
Results: Serum CAF22 value were significantly increased in patients serum in patient when compared to controls (p < 0.001), with the highest levels observed in obesity individuals. ROC analysis demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.918), with an optimal valueof Cut off equal to 205.0, yielding of 91.2% and of 80.0 % of sensitivity and specificity respectively. Patients exhibited a significantly adverse lipid profile, including elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL, and reduced HDL (p < 0.001). CAF22 showed significant positive correlations with triglycerides, VLDL, and TG/HDL ratio, and a negative correlation with HDL (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: CAF22 is a promising non-invasive biomarker for sarcopenia and is significantly associated with metabolic disturbances, particularly dyslipidemia. Its elevated levels in sarcopenic obesity highlight its potential role in reflecting both neuromuscular degradation and metabolic dysfunction.
First Page
172
Last Page
177
Recommended Citation
Awad, Haneen Amer; Jassim, Walaa Esmael; and Mohsin, Ahmed Abdul Hussein
(2026)
"Circulating CAF22 as a Biomarker of Sarcopenia and Its Association With Lipid Profile: A Case–Control Study in an Iraqi Population,"
Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences: Vol. 8:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70492/2664-0554.1176