Quality of life and physical components linked to sarcopenia: The SarcoPhAge study.
INTRODUCTION
The SarcoPhAge project is an ongoing longitudinal study following community-dwelling elderly subjects with the objective to assess some health and functional consequences of sarcopenia. The sarcopenia diagnosis algorithm developed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and used in the present study needs further validation through cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The aim of the present study is to assess, using this algorithm, the prevalence of sarcopenia and the clinical components linked to this geriatric syndrome.


METHODS
Participants were community dwelling subjects aged 65years or older. To diagnose sarcopenia, we applied the definition of the EWGSOP. Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle strength by a hydraulic dynamometer and physical performance by the SPPB test. Large amounts of socio-demographic, anamnestic and clinical data were collected in all subjects.


RESULTS OVER ONE YEAR
534 subjects were recruited for this study (60.5% of women, mean age of 73.5±6.16years), among whom 73 subjects were diagnosed sarcopenic, which represents a global prevalence of 13.7%. Prevalence was 11.8% in men and 14.9% in women. Sarcopenic subjects were older; had a lower Body Mass Index, lower calf, waist, wrist and arm circumferences; presented more cognitive impairments (Mini-Mental State Examination), more comorbidities; were more often malnourished; and consumed more drugs. After adjustment for age, BMI, cognitive status, nutritional status, number of comorbidities and number of drugs, sarcopenic subjects had a worse physical health-related quality of life (SF-36) for the domain of physical functioning, were at higher risk of falls (Timed Up and Go test), were more frail (Fried), presented more often tiredness for the achievement of activities of daily living (Mobility-test), presented less fat mass and obviously less lean mass. Sarcopenic women were also more dependent for housekeeping and handling finances (Lawton scale) than non-sarcopenic ones.


CONCLUSION
Sarcopenia seems to be associated with many harmful clinical components making this geriatric syndrome a real public health burden. Follow-up data of the SarcoPhAge study will be helpful to assess the outcomes of sarcopenia based on the EWGSOP diagnosis algorithm and its different proposed cut-offs.
['Beaudart|C|C|', 'Reginster|J Y|JY|', 'Petermans|J|J|', 'Gillain|S|S|', 'Quabron|A|A|', 'Locquet|M|M|', 'Slomian|J|J|', 'Buckinx|F|F|', 'Bruyère|O|O|']
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon D000058:Accidental Falls D000203:Activities of Daily Living D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000465:Algorithms D001530:Belgium D015992:Body Mass Index D005260:Female D015577:Geriatric Assessment D018737:Hand Strength D006801:Humans D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D015995:Prevalence D011788:Quality of Life D018570:Risk Assessment D055948:Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia EWGSOP Cross-sectional Prevalence