[Undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity according to the GLIM criteria phenotype in elderly patients with diabetes].

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of malnutrition and sarcopenic obesity in elderly patients with diabetes according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) phenotypes.

Methods: The subjects were outpatients with diabetes who were ≥65 years of age and were managed at Ise Red Cross Hospital. Undernutrition was assessed and categorized into the following GLIM criteria phenotypes: (1) no undernutrition, (2) undernutrition (weight loss or low body mass index [BMI]/no low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index [ASMI]), (3) undernutrition (no weight loss or no low BMI/low ASMI), and (4) undernutrition (weight loss or low BMI/low ASMI). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019, and obesity was diagnosed based on the body fat percentage.

Results: In total, 490 patients were included in the analysis. The frequency of undernutrition was 29.0%, and the frequency of undernutrition according to the GLIM criteria phenotypes was as follows: weight loss or low BMI/no low ASMI group, 10.6%; no weight loss and no low BMI/low ASMI group, 9.8%; and weight loss or low BMI/low ASMI group, 8.6%. The frequency of sarcopenic obesity was 7.3%, with the majority of cases found in the no weight loss or no low BMI/low ASMI groups.

Conclusion: The frequency of undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity in elderly patients with diabetes, according to the GLIM phenotypes, was revealed. It is important to pay attention not only to weight loss and low BMI, but also to undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity with reduced skeletal muscle mass when diagnosing undernutrition in elderly diabetic patients.