Sarcopenia Severity and the Accumulation of Geriatric Syndromes Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from...

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia frequently coexists with other geriatric syndromes, and its severity may influence their clinical manifestation. This study examines the prevalence of geriatric syndromes in older adults with non-severe and severe sarcopenia and explores the associations between sarcopenia severity and individual geriatric syndromes in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 726 older outpatients with sarcopenia. Non-severe and severe sarcopenia were diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia algorithm. Fifteen geriatric conditions spanning physical and psychological health, functional status, and social circumstances were assessed using components of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sarcopenia severity and geriatric syndromes. Results: A total of 726 older patients with sarcopenia (mean age 74.4 years, 77.4% females) were included, of whom 53.4% had severe sarcopenia. A significantly higher prevalence of geriatric syndromes was observed in patients with severe compared with non-severe sarcopenia, including sleep disturbances (79.4% vs. 67.5%), frailty (71.4% vs. 54.7%), malnourishment/risk of malnutrition (61.9% vs. 50.0%), depression (54.9% vs. 34.9%), polypharmacy (49.5% vs. 42.0%), impairment in activities of daily living (52.8% vs. 32.5%), and impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (58.2% vs. 39.3%). After adjustment for potential confounders, severe sarcopenia remained associated with sleep disturbance (adjusted OR 1.49, 95%CI 1.02-2.18, p = 0.046), depression (adjusted OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.36-2.66, p < 0.001), and mobility impairment (adjusted OR 3.01, 95%CI 2.12-4.27, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Older Vietnamese adults with sarcopenia had a high burden of geriatric syndromes, particularly among those with severe disease. Severe sarcopenia was independently associated with sleep disturbance, depression, and impaired mobility-clinically relevant and potentially modifiable conditions. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating sarcopenia within a broader geriatric framework and may inform early identification and prioritization of coexisting geriatric syndromes, especially in resource-limited settings.