The prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults living in Western Slovenian nursing homes

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a common disease among older adults and is related to muscle failure. Considering the adverse health consequences of sarcopenia, early detection of the disease is crucial. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia and the levels of severe sarcopenia among older adults living in nursing homes in Western Slovenia by using the newly proposed EWGSOP2 criteria. One-hundred-and-twenty-one (121) older adults (mean age 83.8±7.6 years, 69% women) were included in the study. The obtained results indicate that the prevalence of sarcopenia is 25.0%, with a higher prevalence among men (35.1%) compared to women (24.1%). Interestingly, 90.3% of the sarcopenic cases were identified as severe. The results demonstrate a high prevalence of severe sarcopenia among older adults with the disease. Therefore, the regular and systematic assessment of sarcopenia among Slovenian older adults is suggested in order to identify the disease in an early stage. Interventions focusing on the prevention and alleviation of the disease are warranted.