Abstract
Sarcopenia, characterized by low muscle mass and function, results in frailty, comorbidities and mortality. However, its prevalence varies according to the different criteria used in its diagnosis. This cross-sectional study investigated the difference in the number of sarcopenia cases recorded by two different measurement methods of low muscle mass to determine which measurement was better. We recruited 878 (54.2% female) individuals aged over 65 years and obtained their body composition and functional parameters. Low muscle mass was defined as two standard deviations below either the mean height-adjusted (hSMI) or weight-adjusted (wSMI) muscle mass of a young reference group. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.7% vs. 0.4% (male/female) by hSMI, and 4.0% vs. 10.7% (male/female) by wSMI. The κ coefficients for these two criteria were 0.39 vs. 0.03 (male/female), and 0.17 in all subjects. Serum myostatin levels correlated positively with gait speed (r = 0.142, p = 0.007) after adjustment for gender. hSMI correlated with grip strength, cardiopulmonary endurance, leg endurance, gait speed, and flexibility. wSMI correlated with grip strength, leg endurance, gait speed, and flexibility. Since hSMI correlated more closely with grip strength and more muscular functions, we recommend hSMI in the diagnosis of low muscle mass.
Highlights
Muscle mass and muscle functions, that is grip strength and gait speed, and provides a platform for epidemiological and future therapeutic comparisons
Janssen et al employed a bio-impedance analysis (BIA)-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI), which was adjusted by body weight, below two standard deviations (SDs) of young adult values as criteria in the analysis of a nationwide survey; this study found a relatively high prevalence of sarcopenia[8]
In this study we demonstrated that the prevalence of sarcopenia in Taiwan differs according to the various muscle mass parameters used in its diagnosis
Summary
Muscle mass and muscle functions, that is grip strength and gait speed, and provides a platform for epidemiological and future therapeutic comparisons. Different definitions of decreased skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were described in the EWGSOP criteria, which made inter-study comparisons difficult. Janssen et al employed a BIA-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI), which was adjusted by body weight (wSMI), below two standard deviations (SDs) of young adult values as criteria in the analysis of a nationwide survey; this study found a relatively high prevalence of sarcopenia[8]. Baumgartner et al employed DXA-derived SMI, which was adjusted by squared body height (hSMI), below two SDs of a young reference group as criteria; this study reported a lower prevalence and a high correlation with disability[9]. It is still debatable as to which of the two: wSMI or hSMI, is a better muscle-mass parameter to define sarcopenia. We analyzed the association between body composition and serum myostatin levels
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