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Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging 7/2017

01-07-2017

Cut-off points for muscle mass — not grip strength or gait speed — determine variations in sarcopenia prevalence

Authors: F. Masanés, Xavier Rojano i Luque, A. Salvà, J. A. Serra-Rexach, I. Artaza, F. Formiga, F. Cuesta, A. López Soto, D. Ruiz, A. J. Cruz-Jentoft

Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging | Issue 7/2017

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Abstract

Objectives

The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) has proposed different methods and cut-off points for the three parameters that define sarcopenia: muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. Although this facilitates clinical practice, it limits comparability between studies and leads to wide differences in published prevalence rates. The aim of this study was to assess how changes in cut-off points for muscle mass, gait speed and grip strength affected sarcopenia prevalence according to EWGSOP criteria.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of elderly individuals recruited from outpatient clinics (n=298) and nursing homes (n=276). We measured muscle mass, grip strength and gait speed and assessed how changes in cut-off points changed sarcopenia prevalence in both populations.

Results

An increase from 5.45 kg/m2 to 6.68 kg/m2 in the muscle mass index for female outpatients and nursing-home residents increased sarcopenia prevalence from 4% to 23% and from 9% to 47%, respectively; for men, for an increase from 7.25 kg/m2 to 8.87 kg/m2, the corresponding increases were from 1% to 22% and from 6% to 41%, respectively. Changes in gait speed and grip strength had a limited impact on sarcopenia prevalence.

Conclusion

The cut-off points used for muscle mass affect the reported prevalence rates for sarcopenia and, in turn, affect comparability between studies. The main factors influencing the magnitude of the change are muscle mass index distribution in the population and the absolute value of the cut-off points: the same difference between two references (e.g., 7.5 kg/m2 to 7.75 kg/m2 or 7.75 kg/m2 to 8 kg/m2) may produce different changes in prevalence. Changes in cut-off points for gait speed and grip strength had a limited impact on sarcopenia prevalence and on study comparability.
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Metadata
Title
Cut-off points for muscle mass — not grip strength or gait speed — determine variations in sarcopenia prevalence
Authors
F. Masanés
Xavier Rojano i Luque
A. Salvà
J. A. Serra-Rexach
I. Artaza
F. Formiga
F. Cuesta
A. López Soto
D. Ruiz
A. J. Cruz-Jentoft
Publication date
01-07-2017
Publisher
Springer Paris
Published in
The journal of nutrition, health & aging / Issue 7/2017
Print ISSN: 1279-7707
Electronic ISSN: 1760-4788
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0844-5

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