More than simple muscle assessments

The SarcoPhAge study was not limited to the measurement of these three traditional variables. It extended the scope of its study to other important parameters: alcohol consumption, tobacco addiction, consultation with a physiotherapist, use of walking aids, history of fractures, hospitalization, consumption of medication but also body weight and measurement of the circumference of the waist, calf and wrist. In addition, two other models were chosen to evaluate the autonomy of elderly people. The two models concerned were the Katz scale which measures activites carried out by the person every day such as washing themselves, getting dressed, moving, continence and nutrition and the Lawton scale which evaluates such activities as being capable of using the telephone, taking public transport, doing the shopping, cooking, doing housework, doing the laundry, taking medications on time or managing  finances Added to this was an evaluation of cognitive abilities, presence of depression, nutritional status, physical weakness and physical activities, fatigue caused by daily activities, resistance to fatigue or the risk of falling, breathing capacity or bone mineral density, all of which make this study an invaluable source of precise and precious information with regard to the profiles of individuals affected by sarcopenia.

“Moreover, we are among the first to integrate an evaluation of the quality of life into the study by means of a questionnaire on pain, vitality, the sentiment of being in good physical or mental health, limited movement due to physical or psychological problems, maintenance of a social life and general physical function. We used validated questionnaires (SF-36 and EQ-5D), but we estimated that they were not specific enough for the problem of sarcopenia. We have since been working for two years with French and Swiss teams to design a questionnaire that is more targeted on the question of quality of life in the presence of this syndrome. This is the SarQoL questionnaire (Sarcopenia & Quality of Life) which has just been finalized, validated and published”, says a delighted Professor Olivier Bruyère.

Astonishing results

But now for the results obtained by means of the SarcoPhAge study: out of the 534 people studied and based on this overall view of their state of health, 73 were sarcopenic, representing a prevalence of13.7% (11.8% in men, 14.9% in women). “What is really astonishing, is that prevalence according to sex varies in accordance with the age of the individual: while it is equivalent in individuals between 65-69 years old at around 16%, in individuals aged between 70 and 79, we observed an increase in women with the prevalence increasing to 27.1% as against 20% in men; but after the age of 80, the trend reversed and sarcopenia affected 44% of men as against 29.2% of women…”, says a somewhat surprised Charlotte Beaudart. It is not possible to know whether other studies led to the same observation being made because the same definitions, threshold values nor the same parameters apply”.

Other observations were revealed. The 73 individuals with sarcopenia were significantly older than the others with a lower body mass index and lower anthropometric measurements (circumference of the waist, wrist and calf). They often needed to use walking aids and took more medication (6.79 +/- 3.14, as against 5.66 +/- 3.50 for individuals unaffected by sarcopenia), in particular, treatment for respiratory problems, the nervous system, pain and fever or osteoarticular diseases. For these reasons they showed a greater risk of comorbidities (like respiratory disorders, kidney problems and vertigo) and of being hospitalized. Their cognitive function was also weaker as well as their nutritional status.