Bridging the Divide Between Knowledge and Application in the Clinical Practice of Sarcopenia

Abstract

S characterized by the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass coupled with diminished muscle strength or/and reduced physical performance, has attracted significant research and clinical interest. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), in the years 2014 and 2019, issued diagnostic consensus statements which have garnered substantial citation and recognition within the scientific community. Comparing the diagnostic accuracy of the AWGS 2019 consensus with the previous AWGS 2014 guidelines using a prospective cohort of 731 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years, it was found that AWGS 2019-defined sarcopenia was associated with a significant mortality risk (HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.04–2.54, p = 0.034) after accounting for confounders, while AWGS 2014-defined sarcopenia was not. The AWGS 2019 criteria exhibited better predictive capability for mortality and were superior in identifying sarcopenia-related mortality risk, suggesting their potential utility in improving health outcomes for older adults. Besides, the AWGS also offers practical guidance on areas including malnutrition, dietary factors, supplementation, lifestyle interventions, and COVID-19's impact, with the goal of enhancing equitable care for this population. Despite the diligent research efforts of the AWGS, the practical application of sarcopenia screening, diagnosis, and treatment within clinical practice remains ambiguous.