Factors associated with sarcopenia in a population of non-disabled older patients

Background and aim

To evaluate the association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome.

Patients and methods

A case–control study. Setting. Geriatric Care Clinic of Metepec (México). Inclusion criteria. Outpatients with physical and mental independence to perform daily living activities (DLA). Exclusion criteria. Physical or mental disability requiring assistance from a carer, active cancer, cardiopathies and renal disease.

Patients

124 participants (59.6% women) aged over 60 years (mean age 69.7 years, standard deviation ± 6.5 years).

Measurements

62 with sarcopenia according to the EGWSOP 2019 definition. Hypertension, diabetes, adiposity and dyslipidaemia were assessed, and the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of metabolic syndrome in cases and controls were calculated.

Results

Participants with sarcopenia were more likely to be female (80% vs. 41.8%), with no major differences from controls in other characteristics. 46.7% of participants were obese and 25.8% in both groups met diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome; of the items defining the metabolic syndrome, only hypertension, obesity grade II and central obesity were associated with the presence of sarcopenia (OR 2.12; 3.39 and 1.93, respectively, with 95% CI).

Conclusions

We could not confirm an association between sarcopenia and the metabolic syndrome, but with the obesity and hypertension components.