As Muscle Mass Gradually Decreases with Age, Mortality Risk Increases... "Regular Checkups Needed"

by Byun Seonjin

Published 07 Apr.2023 06:00(KST)

Professor Oh Dong-jin, Department of Nephrology, Myongji Hospital (left), Professor Kwon Young-eun

A study has found that since the decrease in muscle mass in the elderly increases the risk of death, regular check-ups and systematic management are necessary for the older population.

Professors Oh Dong-jin and Kwon Young-eun from the Department of Nephrology at Myongji Hospital, along with the Geriatrics Center research team, conducted a body composition analysis on 279 elderly residents living in nine nursing homes from September to October 2017. The results showed that 85.3% (238 individuals) of the total subjects were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The average age of the sarcopenia group was 84 years, which was 3 years older than the normal group without sarcopenia. Additionally, their average body mass index (BMI) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores were relatively lower.

The research team examined the relationship between sarcopenia, phase angle, and mortality risk, finding that the sarcopenia group had a 3.74 times higher risk of death compared to the normal group. They measured the phase angle, an indicator representing muscle mass, cellular integrity, and health status, and confirmed that for every 1-degree increase in phase angle, the risk of death decreased by 0.59 times.

The research team evaluated, “It has long been known that elderly individuals with low muscle mass have a higher risk of death compared to those without, but diagnosing sarcopenia in elderly patients in clinical settings has been challenging, resulting in a lack of studies on its association with mortality risk.” They further pointed out, “Continuous sarcopenia screening for elderly residents in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes is necessary to detect and manage mortality risk early.”