Identification and characterization of community-dwelling older people with sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is an age-related decline in muscle mass, strength and physical
performance, and is recognized as a geriatric syndrome. Sarcopenia by itself or
as a major component of frailty is associated with a risk of adverse outcomes
e.g. physical disability, increased risk of falls and fractures, poor quality
of life, loss of autonomy and independence, and death. Depending on the
diagnostic criteria, it is estimated that the prevalence of sarcopenia in
community-dwelling people above the age of 60 years varies between 10 and 50%.
As sarcopenia is relatively prevalent and because it increases the risk of
disability and the use of healthcare resources and institutionalization, the
economic burden for the healthcare system is great. Considerable evidence
suggests that sarcopenia is a partially reversible cause of disability and can
benefit from intervention, particularly at its early stages.

The objective of this study is to obtain insight in the characteristics of
sarcopenic versus non-sarcopenic community-dwelling older people.

This study will be a cross-sectional study in the following settings:
community-dwelling persons (n=252), including people living at home without
home care, with home care, in an assisted living facility or in a home for
older people. Inclusion will last 1,5 year, or in case the preferred number of
participants is met, shorter. There is one measurement moment and measurements
will take place at the participant*s home.

During the home visit demographic data of participants will be collected. This
includes age, gender, ethnicity, living situation, presence of chronic
diseases, smoking, falls, BMI (height and weight) and cognitive function
(Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE; Kok & Verhey, 2002). Co-morbidity will
not be an exclusion criterion per se, but participants with acute and/or
uncontrolled conditions, judged by the investigator, will be excluded.
Identification of sarcopenia will be done by measuring muscle mass, strength
and physical performance, by respectively an bioelectrical impedance analyzer ,
hand-held dynamometer and the Short Physical Performance Battery (including a
balance test, gait speed over a four meter course and by five chair stands).
Nutritional status will be assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, the Mini
Nutritional Assessment tool and a blood sample. Other questionnaires used are:
Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (level of physical
activity), FRAIL scale and Fried criteria (physical frailty), GARS (activities
of daily living), EQ-5D-5L (quality of life) and health care use (developed in
cooperation with a professor in the field of Health Economics and HTA/economic
evaluation).

In this study, serious adverse events are unlikely, since previous studies
using the same battery of instruments have reported no or only few events
(mainly muscle soreness). Most of the individual tests are used in clinical
practice already.