The Built Environment and Sarcopenia in Patients with Advanced Lung Disease
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Project Grant Abstract Sarcopenia, a debilitating condition characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is prevalent among patients with advanced lung disease associated with poor clinical outcomes, including lower exercise capacity, reduced health-related quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality. The development of sarcopenia is multifactorial, with age, systemic inflammation, chronic hypoxia, and physical inactivity playing significant roles, particularly among lung disease patients. These risk factors, however, do not operate in isolation, but within the broader socio-environmental context. This research proposal is anchored in the central hypothesis that the built environment, including human-made or modified infrastructure, plays a significant role in the development of sarcopenia among patients with advanced lung disease. The proposed aims of this study are threefold. Aim 1 is to investigate whether the built environment is associated with sarcopenia in patients with advanced lung disease. Aim 2 is to identify the barriers these patients face regarding access to nutritional support and exercise spaces. Aim 3 proposes examining digital access as a promising strategy for delivering food and exercise programs to this patient group. By combining these aims, this innovative, mix-methods study seeks to expand our understanding of sarcopenia risk factors and identify potential interventions. Furthermore, this study will provide valuable preliminary data for future large-scale studies, such as an R01 proposal, which may further unravel the potential of digital strategies in managing sarcopenia in advanced lung disease patients. It also contributes to the long-term goal of reducing health disparities in advanced lung disease by employing digital strategies for nutritional and exercise support.
