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How to support general practitioners to better detect sarcopenia among older adults: a nested case–control analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

This study explores correlations of sarcopenia and its proxies, such as history of falls, asthenia, and ambulation issues, with frailty levels among older adults in primary care.

Methods

In a cohort of 546,590 patients aged 60 years or older, “definite” sarcopenia cases were operationally defined through the use of non-specific diagnostic codes coupled with inspection of free-texts. Proxies of sarcopenia, such as falls history, asthenia, and ambulation issues were considered as well. Frailty was calculated using an Index intended to primary care.

Results

Overall, 171 definite sarcopenia cases were found, rising to 51,520 cases when including proxies (9.4% prevalence). There was a significant association between severe frailty and increased odds of sarcopenia, consistently observed across different event definitions.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia was strongly associated with severe frailty in primary care. The history of falls, asthenia, and ambulation issues were reliable proxies to raise the suspect of sarcopenia. Improved strategies for sarcopenia detection, focusing on specific indicators within severely frail individuals, are warranted.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Serena Pecchioli, MSc to support the preparation and execution of the analysis, along with the all GPs forming the HS network. This study was supported by the Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Search, Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care, Via del Sansovino 179, 50142, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Lapi

  2. Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care, Florence, Italy

    Pierangelo Lora Aprile & Claudio Cricelli

  3. Genomedics SRL, Florence, Italy

    Iacopo Cricelli

  4. Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Davide Liborio Vetrano

  5. Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden

    Davide Liborio Vetrano

Authors
  1. Francesco Lapi
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  2. Pierangelo Lora Aprile
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  3. Iacopo Cricelli
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  4. Davide Liborio Vetrano
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  5. Claudio Cricelli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Lapi.

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Conflict of interest

FL and IC provided consultancies in protocol preparation for epidemiological studies and data analyses for Abbott Nutrition, Dr Shaer, Viatris, and Abiogen. IC is an employee of Genomedics Srl. PLA and CC provided clinical consultancies for Abbott Nutrition, Dr Shaer, Viatris, and Abiogen. DLV has no conflict of interest to disclose.

Ethical approval

According to a by-law on the classification and implementation of observational drug-related research, as issued by the Italian National Drug Agency (an entity belonging to the Italian Ministry of Health), the present study does not require approval by an Ethics Committee in Italy (Italian Drug Agency note of 3 August 2007). This study followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and complied with the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.

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Lapi, F., Aprile, P.L., Cricelli, I. et al. How to support general practitioners to better detect sarcopenia among older adults: a nested case–control analysis. Eur Geriatr Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-024-00967-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-024-00967-2

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