Abstract
Currently, sarcopenia is considered a geriatric syndrome of growing importance in the world. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) define sarcopenia as a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life and death. The objectives of this study were: to estimate the national prevalence of sarcopenia in Mexico, and to identify the main risk factors that determine the presence of sarcopenia. Cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 with a nationally representative sample of 3263 older adults aged 50 and over in Mexico. Sarcopenia was defined according to the three dimensions suggest by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP): muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Individuals were considered sarcopenic if they presented moderate or severe sarcopenia. Global prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.89%; for older adults aged 50–59 was 1.97%, and for those aged 60 and plus was 10.30%. Main risk factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia were: Sex (OR=1.66, p<0.01), Age (OR=1.08, p<0.01), and the following chronic conditions: diabetes (OR=1.38, p<0.05), Stroke (OR=1.95, p<0.05), and arthritis (OR=1.94, p<0.01). Observed prevalence of sarcopenia is similar to those found in other studies where prevalences between 5% and 10% have been observed. Chronic conditions associated with sarcopenia were also observed in other studies, mainly diabetes, which implies that an important emphasis must be put in older adults with both outcomes, sarcopenia and diabetes.