Researchers at UCL Respiratory carried out a study to better understand how often muscle loss (sarcopenia) occurs in people with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and why it may be overlooked in routine care. Previous research used different ways of measuring sarcopenia, and it has been difficult to know how common it really is or to compare findings across studies.
In this study, we combined the results of many previous studies to estimate how often people with interstitial lung disease also experience significant sarcopenia (muscle loss). By bringing together the available evidence, we were able to provide a clearer picture of how common this problem is across different groups of patients.
We found that sarcopenia affects roughly a quarter of patients, showing that muscle loss is a substantial issue for people living with ILD. Muscle loss can have an important impact on strength, mobility and overall quality of life, making it an important aspect of health that should not be overlooked.
We also found that researchers measure sarcopenia in very different ways, which makes it harder to compare studies and to spot the problem consistently in clinical practice. Without a standard approach, it is difficult to know exactly how common sarcopenia is and to ensure that patients who could benefit from support are identified.
Researcher Osama Alsuhimi reports, ‘The findings highlight that muscle health deserves more attention in lung disease, and that we need more consistent ways of identifying sarcopenia. Improving how muscle loss is recognised and measured could help researchers better understand its impact and support the development of strategies to improve patient care.’
Published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine (2026)
[Posted July 2026]