Sarcopenia and depression: a strong association in older adults with type 2 diabetes in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia and depression are both common and impactful conditions in older adults. However, there has been limited research on their relationship, particularly in older patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms among older Vietnamese adults with T2D. METHODS: From May to December 2024, 630 patients with T2D were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the National Geriatric Hospital in Vietnam, of whom 618 were included in the cross-sectional analysis. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria (AWGS 2019). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the validated Vietnamese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), with scores of 5 or higher indicating the presence of depressive symptoms. Demographic factors, lifestyle behaviours, diabetes-related indicators (HbA1c, duration, complications), and geriatric characteristics were also analysed as potential confounders. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 618 participants (mean age 73.5 ± 7.1 years, 63.7% female), 34.5% were diagnosed with sarcopenia, and 25.9% exhibited depressive symptoms. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (AOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.09-2.72). Other significant predictors of depressive symptoms included female sex (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.08-4.98), older age (AOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), higher BMI (AOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.17), more comorbidities (AOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.42), chronic diabetic complications (AOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.85), and cognitive impairment (AOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09-2.38). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a significant association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in older adults with T2D, suggesting that comprehensive screening strategies may help in the early detection of coexisting physical and mental health problems in this vulnerable population.