Sarcopenia risk factor for falls and fractures

Objective: to analyze the incidence of falls and fractures in patients of older age groups, to identify a relationship with sarcopenia depending on gender and age in the study.

Materials and methods. 230 patients 65 years and older (average age 74.0 ± 6.5 years) who were observed at home were included in the study. Patients were divided into three age groups: 65–74 years old, 75–84 years old, 85 years old and older. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was consistent with the recommendations of EWGSOP (2010). Muscle mass was measured using dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) based on the calculation of the AMM index (kg / m2 ). Muscle strength was measured using а grip strength, and physical performance was measured according to the results of a short set of tests of physical activity SPPB tests (short physical performance battery). Cases of falls and fractures were analyzed using a survey and medical documentation.

Results. 45.2 % of patients had falls within 12 months before the start of the study, in patients in the age group of 85 years and older the risk of falls is 1.50 higher (95 % confidence limit (CL) 1.24–1.83, p <0.001), compared with the age group younger than 75 years. Falling and non-falling patients had low values of muscle strength and physical performance (p <0.001). Sarcopenia was detected in 30 % of patients. Sarcopenic patients fell significantly more often than non-sarcopenic patients: 89.9 % (95 % CL: 81.5–95.9) and 26.1 % (95 % CL: 19.6–33.2), respectively (p <0.0001). The frequency of falls increased with age mainly in the group of sarcopenic patients (p <0.0001). 30 % of patients had fractures of any localization, 37.7 % of sarcopenic and 26.7 % of non-sarcopenic patients (p >0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequency of fractures in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients in men and women (p >0.05). Fear of falls increased the risk of sarcopenia 3.02 (95 % CL: 1.79–5.11) times (p <0.0001).

Conclusion. Sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of falling. There were no differences in the number of fractures and their localization in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic. Fear of falls is significantly higher in sarcopenic patients.

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