Background: Older adults are more likely to experience the disorder of skeletal muscles.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia using the diagnostic procedures of sarcopenia recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. The association of sarcopenia with physical activity and other factors was also explored.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed. The sample came from a veterans' home in southern Taiwan during the months of July-September 2018. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria in 2019. Skeletal muscle mass and grip strength were determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis and a digital dynamometer, respectively. The walking speed for a 6-m distance was also measured. Furthermore, the Barthel Index (BI), Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scales (IADL), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and body mass index (BMI) were also collected.
Results: Overall, 139 men with a mean age of 84.3 years (± 10.3 years) were analyzed. According to the recommendation of the AWGS in 2019, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 66.9% (n = 93), whereas 55.4% (n = 77) of men were determined to have severe sarcopenia. After adjusting for age, BMI (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.53-0.75, p < 0.001] and BI scale score [odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-0.99, p = 0.011) were significantly associated with sarcopenia, but the mini-mental state examination and Lawton and Brody IADL scales scores not.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of sarcopenia was evident in this study sample. The impaired score of the BMI and BI were risk factors of sarcopenia. Health providers should pay more attention to residents who have these risk factors, so possible stratagem or intervention can be figured out to improve their health status.
Keywords: Barthel index; Body mass index; Older adult; Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle mass.