Socioeconomic determinants of sarcopenic obesity and frail obesity in community-dwelling older adults: The Seniors-ENRICA Study

Belén Moreno-Franco,Pilar Guallar-Castillón,Raúl F Pérez-Tasigchana,Martin Laclaustra,Juan L Gutierrez-Fisac,Esther Lopez-Garcia,Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28982-x

Abstract

Information on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) throughout life and sarcopenic obesity is scarce, whereas no study has been focused on the association between SES and frail obesity. This analysis estimated the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity and frail obesity, and their associations with SES in older adults. Data were collected in 2012 from 1,765 non-institutionalized individuals aged ≥65 participating in the Seniors-ENRICA study in Spain, by using standardized techniques and equipment. SES throughout life was evaluated with the father’s occupation, participant’s educational level, former own occupation, and current poor housing condition. Overall, 17.2% of participants had sarcopenic obesity, and 4.0% frail obesity. No association was found between SES and sarcopenic obesity. In contrast, the prevalence of frail obesity was higher in those with lower education, having worked in manual job, and currently having poor housing condition. Having ≥1 social disadvantages throughout life was associated with higher prevalence of frail obesity. The prevalence of this disorder increased by 1.49 (95% CI: 1.21–1.85) times for each social disadvantage added. The OR (95% CI) of frail obesity was 3.13 (1.71–5.7) for those having 3 or 4 vs. 0 or 1 social disadvantages, implying a more complex process beginning early in life.

Highlights

The aging process is associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and strength, a phenomenon known as sarcopenia, which in turn is linked to higher risk of functional impairment and death[1]
Sensitivity analysis showed that when body mass index (BMI) criterion was used (≥30 kg/m2) instead of %BF to be considered obese, the prevalence for sarcopenic obesity was 5.9%
Sensitivity analysis showed that when obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, the prevalence of frail obesity was similar, 4.1%

Summary

Introduction

The aging process is associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and strength, a phenomenon known as sarcopenia, which in turn is linked to higher risk of functional impairment and death[1]. It has been postulated that the synergistic association between sarcopenia and obesity may potentiate the effects of both syndromes separately, playing a probable role in the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and even of mortality. Prevalence of frailty found in Spanish studies spans from 8.4 to 16.9, which makes it a potential problem for the aging Spanish demographics[15,16,17]. This study assessed the prevalence of sarcopenic and frail obesity, and its association with SES throughout life, in community-dwelling older adults

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion