Using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in community dwelling older people in the uK: Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS)

Abstract

Background.– The loss of muscle mass and strength combined with the gain in abdominal fat may act synergistically to exacerbate metabolic disorders and to increase disability. Despite their enormous clinical importance, associations of SO with various health outcome in Asian are under-recognized. This study aimed to examine the association of sarcopenic obesity with the prevalence of chronic illness and mobility limitation among 1204 subjects (576 men and 628 women) aged 60 years or older from The Fifth Korea NationalHealth andNutritionExamination Survey (KNHANESV-1). Method.– This study was based on the data obtained from The Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1), 2010, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Participants completed four parts of a questionnaire that included health interview, health behavior, health examination survey and a whole body dual energy X-ray absortiometry(DXA) scan. Sarcopenia was defined as an appedicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by weight(%) of 2 SD below the sex-specific mean for young adults. Obesity was defined as percent body fat above 60th percentile of the study sample. Body composition was categorized into four categories: Normal, sarcopenic nonobese, normal obese, Sarcopenic obese(SO). Data for functional dimensions were extracted from the EQ-5D in KNHANES data (mobility, self-care, usual activities) and pain/discomfort. Results.– The prevalence of SO was 4.1% in men and 7.3% in women, respectively.Hypertension (men: odds ratio[OR], 3.14, 95% CI, 1.51–6.53, women: OR: 2.80, 95% CI, 1.65–4.73) and arthritis (women: OR: 2.39, 95% CI., 1.43–3.99) were associated with a significantly increased likelihood for SO. Older persons with SO are likely to report problems in mobility (OR: 3.34, 95% CI., 1.97–5.65), self-care (men: OR: 2.92, 95% CI., 1.05–8.07, women: OR: 2.33, 95% CI., 1.29–4.21), usual activity (men: OR: 2.28, 95% CI.,1.02–5.08, women: OR: 2.13, 95% CI., 1.29–3.52). Conclusion.– In conclusion, our results showed that sarcopenic obese group was more closely associated mobility, self-care, and usual activity problems. Considering that Korean population is becoming older and more obese, more attention should be given for the prevention and management of sarcopenic obese seniors.