Prevalence of sarcopenia in Mexico City

Sarcopenia is an increasingly recognized problem in the elderly. Recently an algorithm to detect this condition was developed. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in a group of elderly in Mexico City, using the European Wording Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) algorithm. A cross-sectional assessment of community dwelling elderly was performed in a sample of 345 subjects, who were 70 years or older, during the year of 2008. The data was gathered by a group of standardized interviewers. In order to determine sarcopenia, muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance were obtained from database. Muscle mass was measured by means of calf circumference, muscle strength by grip strength and physical performance by gait speed. Cut-points suggested in the EWGSOP algorithm of sarcopenia detection (ASD) were used. A total number of 116 (33.6%) subjects were detected as sarcopenic, 75 (48.5%) women and 41 (27.4%) men; with a greater prevalence in 80-year or older subjects (50.4%). Sarcopenic obesity was found in five subjects (1.4%), moderate sarcopenia in 21 subjects (6%) and severe sarcopenia in 94 subjects (27.2%). The ASD of the EWGSOP is a useful tool for detecting sarcopenia prevalence; the frequency in our population was similar to other reports using other methodology.