The association of obesity and sarcopenia in older adults: Sarcopenic Obesity

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is associated with recurrent falls, limited mobilization, depression, increased risk of morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients. It has been reported that the risk of frailty and disability increases more when obesity and sarcopenia coexist. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between obesity and sarcopenic obesity with functionality and geriatric syndromes in geriatric patients. METHODS: A total of 432 patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment and whose file records were reached were included in the study. Skeletal muscle mass obtained by bioimpedance analysis, walking speed with a 4-meter walking test, and muscle strength measurements with a hand dynamometer were recorded in all patients. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was made according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. In addition, patients with a body mass index> 30 kg / m2 were considered obese and divided into two groups as sarcopenic obesity and non-sarcopenic obesity. RESULTS: 69.9% of the patients were women, the mean age of them was calculated as 75.40±7.35. 20.4% of all participants were sarcopenic obesity(n = 88), 22.5% were non-sarcopenic obesity(n = 97) and the rest were from the control group without sarcopenia and obesity (n = 246). It was determined that age was higher and hypertension was more common in sarcopenic obese patients. It was observed that falls and urinary incontinence were more common in obese patients(p <0.05). Cognitive test scores, gait and balance scores, activities of daily living and nutritional scores were found to be worse in the sarcopenic obesity group compared to the other two groups (p <0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The association of sarcopenia and obesity in elderly patients is associated with poorer functionality and cognitive functions in patients. Therefore, obese cases should be evaluated in terms of sarcopenia and necessary interventions should be made in the early period.