title: [Prevalence of sarcopenia in Spanish nursing homes: Comparison of the results of the ELLI study with other populations].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia, according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, in men and women living in Spanish nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-centre study was conducted on ambulatory persons over 69 years old living in nursing homes. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance analysis, grip strength with a Jamar dynamometer, and gait speed using the 4 metre walk test. Sarcopenia was assessed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria (gait speed<0.8m/s; grip strength<30kg in men or 20kg in women, and muscle mass index <8.31kg/m(2) in men or<6.68kg/m(2) in women).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 276 subjects with a median age 87.2 years, and with 69% women. Sarcopenia was demonstrated in 37% (15% men, 46% women), 37% had low muscle mass, 86% low gait speed, and 95% low grip strength. Prevalence of sarcopenia increased with advancing age. Both weakness and low gait speed was observed in 90% of individuals with sarcopenia, with 39% of the total having low gait speed, and 38% with weakness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sarcopenia is a frequent condition in older persons living in nursing homes, especially among women. Most of the cases are severe, with both low muscle strength and physical performance. Although muscle function is altered in 9 out 10 participants, most of them have preserved muscle mass.
authors.affiliation: Fundació Salut i Envelliment, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: antoni.salva@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvà
authors.affiliation: Geriatría, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Serra-Rexach
authors.affiliation: Igurco Servicios Sociosanitarios, Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Artaza
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formiga
authors.affiliation: Fundació Salut i Envelliment, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rojano I Luque
authors.affiliation: Geriatría, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, España; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Soto
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, España; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masanés
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Geriatría, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Alfonso J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cruz-Jentoft
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cribado; Elderly; Epidemiologia; Epidemiology; Nursing homes; Personas mayores; Residencias; Sarcopenia; Screening