Prevalence of sarcopenia in a Danish geriatric out-patient population

The prevalence of sarcopenia varies extensively depending on the definitions and studied populations. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia in a Danish geriatric out-patient population using criteria from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia (EWGSOP).

Patients referred to a geriatric out-patientclinic were included. Using the EWGSOP´s recommendations, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), hand-grip strength (HGS) and gait speed (ten-meter walk (GS)) were assessed. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated by ASM/height2 (kg/m2), and patients were classified with: no sarcopenia (normal SMI), pre-sarcopenia (reduced SMI, normal HGS and GS), sarcopenia (reduced SMI and reduced HGS or GS) or severe sarcopenia (reduced SMI, HGS and GS).

A total of 189 patients were screened, 80 were included. In all, 12 (15%) had severe sarcopenia, nine (11%) sarcopenia, eight (10%) pre-sarcopenia and 51 (64%) no sarcopenia. Mean age was significantly higher in the SARC- group (sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia) than in the NOSARC-group (pre-sarcopenia and no sarcopenia) (p = 0.009), and BMI was significantly lower in the SARC-group (p < 0.0001). No difference was found in gender distribution (p = 0.729).

26% of patients in a geriatric out-patient population had sarcopenia, which highlights that this is a common condition. Standard assessments can identify functional limitations, but not sarcopenia. The EWGSOP's recommendations are feasible, and we suggest that they should form part of the standard clinical comprehensive geriatric assessment.

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