Prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among adults living in nursing homes

H. E. Senior, T. R. Henwood, E. M. Beller, G. K. Mitchell, J. W.L. Keogh

Maturitas .2015; 82: 418–423

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle function. It is known to increase the risk of disability, falls and falls-related injuries, loss of independence, hospitalization, and mortality.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for sarcopenia among 709 older residential aged care adults in Australia, using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) criteria.

Sarcopenia was defined according to the EWGSOP criteria (presence of both low muscle mass and low muscle function).

Skeletal mass index by bioelectrical impedance analysis, muscle strength from handgrip strength, and physical performance by the short physical performance battery (SPPB) 2.4 m walk test, were assessed.

Forty point two percent of participants were diagnosed as sarcopenic, 95% of whom were categorized as having severe sarcopenia.

Body mass index (BMI) (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78–0.94), low physical performance (OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.69–1.00), nutritional status (OR = 0.19; 95% CI 0.05–0.68) and sitting time (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.00–1.39) were predictive of sarcopenia in the univariate logistic regression. However, only low BMI (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.65–0.97) remained predictive when tested with a multivariate logistic regression.

Comment: These findings demonstrate that residents in nursing homes have at least double the prevalence of sarcopenia (40.2%) compared to community-dwelling adults (1-29%) and those in acute geriatric hospital wards, with low BMI being a significant predictor of increasing sarcopenic risk.

Given the high prevalence of sarcopenia in nursing home residents, it is imperative to develop and implement evidence-based interventions into clinical practice.

Interventions to prevent or reduce sarcopenia should probably include a combination of both exercise interventions to increase muscle strength and improve physical performance, and nutritional interventions to increase protein synthesis.