title: The impact of low muscle mass definition on the prevalence of sarcopenia in older Australians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcopenia is the presence of low muscle mass and low muscle function. The aim of this study was to establish cutoffs for low muscle mass using three published methods and to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia in older Australians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gender specific cutoffs levels were identified for low muscle mass using three different methods. Low grip strength was determined using established cutoffs of <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gender specific cutoffs levels for low muscle mass identified were (a) <6.89 kg/m(2) for men and <4.32 kg/m(2) for women, <2 standard deviation (SD) of a young reference population; (b) <7.36 kg/m(2) for men and <5.81 kg/m(2) for women from the lowest 20% percentile of the older group; and (c) <-2.15 for men and <-1.42 for women from the lowest 20% of the residuals of linear regressions of appendicular skeletal mass, adjusted for fat mass and height. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older (65 years and older) people by these three methods for men was 2.5%, 6.2%, and 6.4% and for women 0.3%, 9.3%, and 8.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sarcopenia is common but consensus on the best method to confirm low muscle mass is required.
authors.affiliation: Aged and Extended Care Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network and Adelaide Geriatric Training and Research with Aged Care (G-TRAC) Center, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Level 8B Main Building, 21 Woodville Road, Woodville South, Adelaide, SA 5011, Australia ; The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia ; Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia ; Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.affiliation: The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia ; Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia ; Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wittert
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Thavarajah
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3465-2608
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Visvanathan
authors.affiliation: Aged and Extended Care Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network and Adelaide Geriatric Training and Research with Aged Care (G-TRAC) Center, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Level 8B Main Building, 21 Woodville Road, Woodville South, Adelaide, SA 5011, Australia ; The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia ; Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Renuka
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1303-9479
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Visvanathan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult