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Association Between Sarcopenia Risk and Dysphagia Risk in Older Adults Not Certified for Long-Term Care Insurance in
Mayumi Nasu1,2, Hiroshi Kishimoto3, Satoko Yano2
1Department of Nursing, Kameda College of Health Sciences, Kamogawa, JPN.
Cureus
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Older adults not needing long-term care insurance face risks of sarcopenia and dysphagia. Sarcopenia risk significantly increases dysphagia risk, suggesting combined screening is beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Sarcopenia and dysphagia are significant health concerns in older adults.
- Early identification of these conditions is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly.
- Older adults not certified for long-term care insurance represent a population often overlooked in targeted health screenings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and association of sarcopenia risk and dysphagia risk among community-dwelling older adults aged 75 years and older.
- To determine if individuals at risk for sarcopenia are also at higher risk for dysphagia.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 568 community-dwelling older adults (≥75 years) in Japan not certified for long-term care insurance.
- Self-administered questionnaires assessed sarcopenia risk (SARC-F) and dysphagia risk (EAT-10).
- Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests and logistic regression, adjusting for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- 12.0% of participants were at risk for sarcopenia and 16.4% for dysphagia.
- A significant association was found between sarcopenia risk and dysphagia risk (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.91-9.29).
- Nearly half (47%) of those at risk for sarcopenia were also identified as being at risk for dysphagia.
Conclusions:
- An association exists between sarcopenia risk and dysphagia risk in community-dwelling older adults not requiring long-term care insurance.
- The findings highlight the importance of screening for dysphagia in older adults identified with sarcopenia risk.
- Integrating dysphagia screening into existing sarcopenia screening programs could improve early detection and intervention for both conditions.
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