Prevalence of Sarcopenic Obesity and Associated Factors in Older Adults

Abstract

Aim: Sarcopenia is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality, with unfavorable consequences. The present study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia associated with obesity, referred to as sarcopenic obesity, and the associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which was a type of retrospective observational study. The study included patients aged ≥65 years who were treated outpatiently between May 2020 and February 2022. The study population was divided into two groups: the SO group and the SO group alone. In the univariate analyses, we investigated the relationship between age, sex, number of medications, polypharmacy, comorbid conditions, frailty, and undernutrition in the two groups. The parameters found to be related to each group in the univariate analyses were further evaluated using multivariate analyses. Results: Among the 367 participants, the median age was 71 years (65-97). The proportion of cases with sarcopenic obesity was 15.3% (n=56), whereas the proportion of individuals with sarcopenia but without obesity was 16.6% (n=61). In the multivariate analysis, age (p=0.001) and frailty (p<0.001) were found to be factors associated with SO. Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults with obesity is similar to that in those with obesity, although female sex and frailty stand out as factors with a particular association with sarcopenic obesity.

Keywords

• sarcopenia
• obesity
• elderly