Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Its Association with Malnutrition in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and evaluate the nutritional status in geriatric patients hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Clinic. Material and Method: A total of 105 patients (54 female and 51 male) aged ? 65 years (mean age: 74 ± 6 years) hospitalized between November 2015 and January 2016 were consecutively enrolled in this prospective and observational clinical study. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance device, muscle function by walking test, and strength by hand grip test. Patients were diagnosed with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and non- sarcopenic. Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) test was used to define malnutrition. Results: The number of patients diagnosed with sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia was 49 (46.7%) and 5 (4.8%), respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in female patients than male patients (61.1% vs. 31.4%; p=0.006). The prevalence of malnutrition in patients with sarcopenia and without sarcopenia were 51%, 10%, and the rate of patients at risk of malnutrition with sarcopenia and without sarcopenia was 37%, 49%, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia (p<0.001). 40.8% of sarcopenic patients were overweight or obese. In the logistic regression analysis, female gender (OR=3.3, CI=1.35-8.04) and malnutrition (OR=9.41, CI=3.06-28.95) were significant risk factors for the development of sarcopenia. Conclusion: Approximately half of the hospitalized geriatric patients were sarcopenic or pre-sarcopenic, and 88% of patients with sarcopenia had malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition. Sarcopenia and malnutrition should be evaluated together in geriatric inpatients and sarcopenic obesity should not be ignored.