Ann Geriatr Med Res.  2021 Sep;25(3):210-216. 10.4235/agmr.21.0068.

Combined Impact of Positive Screen for Sarcopenia and Frailty on Physical Function, Cognition and Nutrition in the Community Dwelling Older Adult

• Lee HX
• Yeo A
• Tan CN
• Yew S
• Tay L
• Ding YY
• Lim WS

• KMID: 2520498
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.21.0068

Abstract

Background
While sarcopenia and frailty independently contribute to functional impairment and disability, the combined impact resulting from their interplay is unclear. We investigated if functional, physical, cognitive, and nutritional measures were more adversely affected in community-dwelling older adults who were screened positive for both frailty and sarcopenia.
Methods
Using the FRAIL (≥1) and SARC-F (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falls) (≥1) scales for screening, we categorized 200 participants (age, 67.9±7.9 years) as combined (both positive, 12.5%), intermediate (either positive, 25.5%), or robust (both negative, 62%).
Results
Comparisons of the three groups showed that the combined group had significantly worse functional ability (Frenchay Activities Index and Modified Barthel Index), physical performance (knee extension, gait speed, and Short Physical Performance Battery score), cognition/mood (Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination [CMMSE] score and Geriatric Depression Scale), and nutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] score) (p<0.05, one-way analysis of variance). Post-hoc comparisons revealed similar findings between the combined and robust groups, except for knee extension and CMMSE scores. Only MNA scores were significantly lower between the intermediate and robust groups.
Conclusion
Functional ability, physical performance, and nutrition were more adversely affected in our study population of community-dwelling older adults who screened positive for both frailty and sarcopenia than in those who screened positive for either or neither, supporting the use of community screening for early detection and intervention for both frailty and sarcopenia as opposed to either alone.

Keyword

Sarcopenia; Frailty; Community-dwelling