Sarcopenia may classified based on by cause. In many patients the sarcopenia is multifactorial. Identifying the cause is the first step in formulating an appropriate management strategy.
Category
Features
age-related
advanced age as the only explanation
activity-related (extrinsic cause)
prolonged bed rest, inactivity (sedentary lifestyle), disuse with deconditioning, zero-gravity
nutrition-related
protein and/or calorie malnutrition, anorexia, starvation
disease-related
secondary to organ failure, cancer, endocrine or metabolic disorder, chronic inflammatory disease, neurodegenerative
drug or toxin-induced
mixed
more than one of the above categories
where:
• Age-related sarcopenia is termed primary if no other cause is found. However, the term primary may be better reserved if no underlying cause is found.
Sarcopenia due to disease can be divided into:
(1) myopathic
(2) nonmyopathic
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