Sarcopenia influences fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults

This study aimed to determine the relationship between sarcopenia and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults in Korea. The study population comprised 2848 subjects aged 65 years or older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys during 2010–2011. Sarcopenia was considered to be present if the subject's appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by his or her weight was less than 29.9% in men, or less than 25.1% in women. The incidence of fall-related injuries during the past year among all the respondents was 4.3%, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was 32.2%. After controlling for sociodemographic variables and morbidity due to chronic diseases, the incidence of fall-related injuries remained significantly elevated among older adults with sarcopenia (odds ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence internal = 1.01–2.54). Sarcopenia should be considered when investigating means of preventing of fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults. To prevent falls among these persons, it is vital to implement intervention programs that increase muscle mass.