title: Prevalence and definition of sarcopenia in community dwelling older people. Data from the Berlin aging study II (BASE-II).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcopenia describes the age-associated loss of muscle mass, strength and function. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia in a cohort of community dwelling elderly people living in Berlin, Germany, according to the criteria proposed by current consensus statements and to study the respective impact on self-reported physical performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 1405 participants from the Berlin aging study II (BASE-II). The appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle strength was measured by hand grip strength and the timed up and go" test (TUG) was performed as a functional parameter to reflect mobility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of sarcopenia was 24.3 % in terms of reduced SMI only and considerably lower for sarcopenia with reduced grip strength (4.1 %) and sarcopenia with limited mobility (2.4 %). Only 0.6 % of the participants fulfilled all three criteria. Of the subjects with a normal SMI, 8.6 % had reduced grip strength and 5.1 % had limited mobility, whereas 1.3 % subjects fulfilled both criteria. Participants with reduced strength or function reported severe difficulties in performing physical tasks significantly more often than participants with normal or reduced SMI alone (p <0.029-p <0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In BASE-II low skeletal muscle mass was much more frequent than reduced grip strength or poor function. Reduced strength and function were found to be associated with a greater impact on physical performance than reduced muscle mass. Low SMI does not seem to be a prerequisite for low strength or limitations in mobility.
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany. dominik.spira@charite.de.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Spira
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Norman
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Nikolov
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany.|Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Demuth
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Steinhagen-Thiessen
authors: Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Reinickendorfer Str. 61, 13347, Berlin, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Eckardt
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001604:Berlin / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D000072797:Walking Speed
keywords: Community dwelling older people; Limited mobility; Muscle mass; Reduced hand grip strength; Sarcopenia