Evaluation of the Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia: A Study in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction. In Africa, particularly in Senegal, sarcopenia among patients undergoing hemodialysis remains insufficiently studied. In this context, we conducted this study with the objective of describing the epidemiological and etiological aspects of sarcopenia among hemodialysis patients in Dakar in 2025. Patients and Methods. We carried out a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study over a 15-day period in four hemodialysis centers in Dakar. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the EWGSOP2 working group. Cluster sampling of hemodialysis centers was performed, followed by stratified sampling by dividing patients into two groups: younger patients (< 65 years) and older patients (≥ 65 years). All patients on chronic hemodialysis for at least three months were included. Results. A total of 152 patients were included. The mean age was 47.88 ± 13.68 years. There were 77 men (50.7%) and 75 women (49.3%), with a sex ratio of 1.02. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 20.72 ± 4.91 kg/m² (range: 12.65-38.39), and 23.7% of patients had a BMI < 18.5 kg/m². The mean serum ferritin level was 829.73 ± 778.4 ng/mL. Based on the SARC-F questionnaire, sarcopenia was suspected in 55 patients. Handgrip strength was reduced in 82 patients (53.94%), including 38 men and 44 women. Bioelectrical impedance analysis confirmed sarcopenia in 64 patients, yielding a prevalence of 42.10%. Thirty patients presented with severe sarcopenia. In multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with sarcopenia were male sex (OR = 5.98; 95% CI: 2.27-15.74), undernutrition (BMI < 18.5) (OR = 6.25; 95% CI: 2.08-18.74), and overweight (BMI > 25) (OR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.49). Conclusion. Sarcopenia is common among hemodialysis patients in Dakar. Male sex, and undernutrition are significant risk factors. A prospective cohort study would be relevant to better assess its prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic impact.