Prevalence and Related Factors of Suspected Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

PURPOSE: Owing to Japan's aging population, increasing healthy life expectancy is a major public health issue, and conditions such as sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity pose significant health risks. However, few studies have examined their prevalence and related factors in the general older population. This study investigated the prevalence and related factors of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. METHODS: . Primary demographic data, data regarding lifestyle habits, and physical and mental health information were collected and the associations between these factors and sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 6072 participants (2680 men and 3392 women; mean age 73.9 ± 4.5 years), 9.5% had suspected sarcopenia. The logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between suspected sarcopenia and age, BMI, physical and psychological factors, anxiety, depression, and motor function decline for men and women. Hypertension, smartphone use, exercise habits, and social withdrawal were risk factors for women. The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity among the participants with suspected sarcopenia was 35.8% for men and 31.4% for women. Sarcopenic obesity was significantly associated with hypertension among men and women. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of suspected sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was high among community-dwelling older adults and associated with various physical and mental factors. Early detection and multiaspect interventions for suspected sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are essential for extending the healthy life expectancy of the general older Japanese adult population.