The prevalence and risk factors for sarcopenia in older adults and long-living older adults.

PURPOSE

Sarcopenia is a muscular syndrome that is related to several adverse risks. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of risk of sarcopenia and associated factors in older adults and long-living older adults.

METHODS

A crosssectional epidemiological study of older adults patients at a geriatric outpatient clinic. The older adults were evaluated for sarcopenia risk using the SARC-F questionnaire supplemented with the measurement of the calf circumference. In addition, nutritional status was characterized using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and the relationship of sarcopenia with associated factors (comorbidities, polypharmacy, smoking).

RESULTS

A total of 100 eligible older adults with a mean age of 77.2 ± 1.8 years in the older adults and 86.3 ± 4.2 years in the long-living older adults (p < 0.001) were evaluated. The long-living older adults (OR = 6.1; 95 % CI: 1.44-16.09; p = 0.01) and older adults at risk of malnutrition (OR = 13.6; 95 % CI: 1.55-11.38; p < 0.05) had a higher risk of sarcopenia, whereas BMI ≥ 27 kg/m 2 (OR = 0; 95 % CI: 0-0.06; p < 0.001) was a protective factor. The risk of sarcopenia was six times higher in the over-80 s (95 % CI = 1.44, 16.09), while the older adults with malnutrition or at nutritional risk ran a 13 times higher risk of sarcopenia (95 % CI = 1.55, 11.38).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of risk of sarcopenia was higher in the long-living older adults and the older adults at nutritional risk, making its early evaluation in clinical practice important.