Chen et al reported consensus criteria for identifying an older adult with sarcopenia. There are criteria for use in primary care and criteria for inpatients. The authors are from multiple institutions from around Asia participating in the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS)
Patient selection: age >= 60 years, primary care or community preventive services setting
Indications to screen - one or more of the following:
(1) low calf circumference (< 34 cm for male; < 33 cm for female)
(2) SARC-F >= 4
(3) SARC-CALF > 10
(4) presence of a chronic health condition (heart failure, COPD, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, etc)
(5) functional decline or limitation
(7) unintentional weight loss
(8) malnutrition
(9) history of repeated falls
(10) cognitive impairment or depression
Screen
Criteria for Reduced Status
muscle strength
reduced handgrip strength (< 28 kg for male; < 18 kg for female)
physical performance
(time for 5 chair-stand cycles >= 12 seconds) OR (6 meter walking speed < 1.0 m/s) OR short physical performance battery <= 9
appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: < 7.0 kg per square meter for male; < 5.4 kg per square meter if female
BIA: < 7.0 kg per square meter for male; < 5.7 kg per square meter if female
Low Muscle Strength AND Low ASM
Low Physical Performance
Interpretation
yes
no
sarcopenia
no
yes
sarcopenia
yes
yes
severe sarcopenia
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