The Epidemiology of Sarcopenia
Section snippets
Prevalence of sarcopenia
The prevalence of sarcopenia observed in different research studies varies considerably. This reflects differences in the older population groups studied, the different techniques used to measure skeletal muscle mass and size, and differences in the normative (young and healthy) population groups that were used to derive the sarcopenia thresholds. Within the existing literature, the prevalence of sarcopenia in 60- to 70-year olds is in the order of 5% to 13%.16 These prevalence estimates
Influence of sarcopenia on physical function
Most research on the health implications of sarcopenia that were published before 2005 focused on physical function outcomes, such as difficulty performing activity of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.6 The results from a few of the many cross-sectional studies are referred to in this paragraph to highlight the relationships that were reported. Using a cutoff for height-adjusted appendicular muscle mass of 2 standard deviations or more below the mean of young adults to
Influence of sarcopenia on metabolic function, chronic disease, and mortality
Several recent studies have considered the effect of a low muscle mass on metabolic function, chronic disease, and mortality. One of the metabolic effects of a loss in muscle mass is a modest decrease in resting metabolic rate consequent to the loss in skeletal muscle mass.18 Although it has been postulated that sarcopenia contributes to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension,19 the literature is mixed and, in general,
Relevance of muscle strength
A primary rationale for studying the age-related loss in muscle mass is the belief that the loss in muscle mass is indicative of a loss of muscle strength and function. Thus, in the causal chain, sarcopenia was thought to cause a loss in muscle strength, which in turn would cause functional impairment and physical disability. In fact, although the initial 1989 definition of sarcopenia focused exclusively on the loss in muscle mass, over time the definition of sarcopenia evolved into one that
Consensus definition of sarcopenia
The sarcopenia research that has been conducted over the past 2 decades has not been well integrated into clinical practice. Part of this reflects the vast array of definitions, thresholds, and measures that different researchers have used to identify the condition. To address this issue, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) was developed in 2009 to develop a consensus definition of sarcopenia that could be used in both the research and clinical settings. The EWGSOP
Summary
Research conducted within the past 2 decades has taught us a considerable amount about the health consequences of the age-related loss in muscle mass and strength. Although there is a large body of epidemiologic evidence linking sarcopenia (particularly a low muscle strength) to a loss in physical function, cardiometabolic disease, and mortality, the assessment and management of sarcopenia are not a routine part of clinical practice. It is hoped that the development of a consensus and
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The author is supported by an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has nothing to disclose.