[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the problems associated with osteosarcopenia and its effect on physical performance, nutritional status, and support or care required by older community-dwelling adults. [Participants and Methods] This study investigated 141 older community-dwelling adults requiring support or care using an ambulatory rehabilitation service. The patients were divided into a control, osteopenia only, sarcopenia only, and osteosarcopenia group. We investigated the associations of each condition with the baseline information, grip strength, gait speed, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score, and support or care level required. [Results] The osteosarcopenia group consisted of 43.3% of the total study participants. Osteosarcopenia was more closely associated with body mass index, support or care level, grip strength, gait speed, skeletal muscle mass index, and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score than osteopenia or sarcopenia alone. [Conclusion] Osteosarcopenia is highly prevalent in older community-dwelling adults requiring support or care, which may suggest a greater effect on physical performance, nutritional status, and support or care required than that exerted by osteopenia or sarcopenia alone.
Keywords: Long-term care; Nutrition; Osteosarcopenia.
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