Difference Between Cachexia and Sarcopenia

The key difference between cachexia and sarcopenia is that cachexia is defined as weight loss due to an underlying illness, while sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and function associated with ageing.

Cachexia and sarcopenia are muscle wasting disorders that mainly affect cancer patients and the ageing population, respectively. Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Cachexia is muscle loss due to an underlying illness. Both cachexia and sarcopenia are driven by inflammation. Therefore, cachexia involves muscle wasting and weakness as a result of disease-related inflammation, while sarcopenia involves muscle wasting and weakness as a result of age-related inflammation. They also involve oxidative stress. Both syndromes lead to frailty.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cachexia
3. What is Sarcopenia
4. Similarities Between Cachexia and Sarcopenia
5. Side by Side Comparison – Cachexia vs Sarcopenia in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Cachexia?

Cachexia is a metabolic syndrome which is characterized by the loss of muscle and fat (adipose tissue) mass due to an underlying illness. In simple words, cachexia refers to weight loss due to an underlying disease such as sarcopenia. Moreover, it can be associated with cancer and other chronic diseases. Cachexia is mainly due to disease-related inflammation. Cachexia involves the release of inflammatory cytokines due to diseases, especially due to cancer.

Difference Between Cachexia and Sarcopenia

Figure 01: Cachexia

The prominent clinical feature of cachexia is weight loss in adults. Furthermore, cachexia patients experience appetite loss. They also experience fatigue and a poor overall quality of life and fail to perform regular daily activities. Cancer cachexia patients show a significant decrease in physical function. They may not be able to walk even a short distance.

What is Sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome which is characterized by the loss of muscle and muscle weakness. The Greek meaning of sarcopenia is ‘poverty of flesh’. It is an age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Similar to cachexia, sarcopenia is also driven by inflammation due to ageing. Moreover, sarcopenia involves oxidative stress. Sarcopenia leads to frailty.

Figure 02: Sarcopenia

When diagnosing sarcopenia, it is necessary to document the low muscle mass with low muscle strength and low physical performance. Since sarcopenia is due to ageing, this syndrome is frequently seen among elderly people. Most importantly, elderly people with cancer are at a higher risk of sarcopenia.

What are the Similarities Between Cachexia and Sarcopenia?

Cachexia can be an underlying condition of sarcopenia.
In both syndromes, the loss of muscle mass happens.
Both cachexia and sarcopenia are driven by inflammation.
Moreover, they are associated with oxidative stress.
Both cachexia and sarcopenia lead to frailty.
They are associated with poor performance status.

What is the Difference Between Cachexia and Sarcopenia?

Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by the loss of fat and muscle mass due to disease-related inflammation. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass due to age-related inflammation. Therefore, cachexia involves weight loss due to disease-related inflammation, while sarcopenia involves weight loss due to age-related inflammation. So, this is the key difference between cachexia and sarcopenia.

The below info-graphic shows more differences between cachexia and sarcopenia in tabular form.

Summary – Cachexia vs Sarcopenia

Cachexia and sarcopenia are two diseases which cause muscle wasting. Cachexia is a metabolic syndrome which is characterized by the loss of muscle and fat tissue due to the inflammation related to chronic illness. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome which is characterized by the general loss of muscle mass due to age-related inflammation. Therefore, both are driven by inflammation and oxidative stress. Both syndromes lead to poor physical performance and weight loss. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between cachexia and sarcopenia.

Reference:

1. Morishita, Shinichiro, et al. “Understanding Cachexia, Sarcopenia, and Physical Exercise in Patients with Cancer.” IntechOpen, IntechOpen, 30 Aug. 2017, Available here.
2. Ali, Sumbul, and Jose M Garcia. “Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Aging: Diagnosis, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Options – a Mini-Review.” Gerontology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014, Available here.