Ethnic Variations in the Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Older Adults

Abstract

With the recent approval of specific ICD‐10 codes for sarcopenia, it is likely there will be increased clinical awareness of and research on this condition. Sarcopenia is the natural age‐associated loss of muscle mass and function and often occurs simultaneously with obesity especially in older adults. Sarcopenia and obesity are each risk factors contributing to poor health outcomes, yet the occurrence of both together as sarcopenic obesity can cause even more health complications. Although there may be genetic variability in BMI and possibly body composition, few studies have specifically examined the prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity across different racial/ethnic populations. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among older adults in the U.S. by different racial/ethnic groups. 2458 subjects aged 65 or older were identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999–2004 (the dataset from this timeframe allowed identification of sarcopenia). Racial/ethnic subpopulations were grouped as defined by NHANES; non‐Hispanic White (Whites), non‐Hispanic Black (Blacks), Hispanics, and others. Sarcopenia was defined as having low appendicular lean mass adjusted for body mass index (< 0.789 kg/m2 for males and < 0.512 kg/m2 for females) and having self‐reported functional limitation. Subjects fulfilling the criteria for sarcopenia and obesity (body fat ≥ 25% for males and ≥ 35% for females) were defined as having sarcopenic obesity. In the older adult population, the overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.5%, with sarcopenic obesity being closely associated and having a prevalence of 15.3%. The prevalence of sarcopenia varied by gender and race/ethnic subpopulation: 26.8% in male and 27.2% in female among Hispanics, 15.5% in male and 15.1% in female among Whites, 8.6% in male and 1.6% in female among Blacks, and 16.5% in male and 23.2% in female among other racial and ethnic groups. Sarcopenic obesity also varied by gender and race/ethnic subpopulation: 26.4% in male and 27.2% in female among Hispanics, 15.2% in male and 14.9% in female among Whites, 8.1% in male and 1.6% in female among Blacks, and 16.5% in male and 21.0% in female among other racial and ethnic groups. The results of this study demonstrated large variability in prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among racial/ethnic subpopulations of older adults. Hispanics had the highest prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, whereas Blacks had the lowest. Increased awareness of these variabilities may be important to consider when developing effective health screenings/interventions for an increasingly diverse older adult population in the US.