Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Ageing Res Rev. 2012 Apr;11(2):320-4. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2012.01.001. Epub 2012 Jan 25.
Low muscle mass at older age has been associated with functional impairments, cognitive decline and mortality. The term sarcopenia, coined in 1988, has been used interchangeably to describe low muscle mass, strength, and function. Without a well defined definition, results of studies using the term sarcopenia cannot be compared. Difficulties in defining sarcopenia parallel the history of defining osteoporosis. To understand critical steps that are needed to reach consensus in defining age-related diseases, we have identified milestones in the history of defining osteoporosis and compared these to sarcopenia. As a result, the main missing steps in the process of defining sarcopenia are: specific treatment options, pharmaceutical interest, and public awareness. Similar to osteoporosis being defined as 'low bone mineral density', the term sarcopenia should be reserved for 'low muscle mass'. Consensus must be reached regarding the diagnostic criteria to quantify muscle mass, correction factors, and reference populations used to define cut-off values of muscle mass.
随着年龄的增长，肌肉质量降低与功能障碍、认知能力下降和死亡率升高相关。1988 年提出的“肌肉减少症”这一术语可互换地用于描述低肌肉质量、力量和功能。由于缺乏明确的定义，使用“肌肉减少症”这一术语的研究结果无法进行比较。在定义肌肉减少症方面的困难与定义骨质疏松症的历史相似。为了了解在定义与年龄相关的疾病方面达成共识所需的关键步骤，我们确定了定义骨质疏松症历史上的里程碑，并将这些里程碑与肌肉减少症进行了比较。因此，在定义肌肉减少症的过程中主要缺失的步骤是：特定的治疗选择、药物研发兴趣和公众意识。类似于骨质疏松症被定义为“低骨矿物质密度”，“肌肉减少症”这一术语应保留用于“低肌肉质量”。必须就用于量化肌肉质量的诊断标准、校正因子和参考人群达成共识，以确定肌肉质量的截止值。
