Physical Indicators and Cutoff Values Associated with Improvement in Sarcopenia in Older Adults Undergoing Rehabilitation.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine baseline physical indicators and their cutoff values associated with improvement in sarcopenia (IS) in older individuals undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 343 older individuals with sarcopenia (median age = 81 years) admitted to a rehabilitation hospital between January 2020 and September 2023 after discharge from acute care hospitals. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria; IS was defined as no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria at discharge. Baseline assessments included handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed (GS), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and the Short Physical Performance Battery. We used sex-wise multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with IS and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to determine cutoff values.

Results: IS was seen in 16 males (17%) and 46 females (18%). Associated indicators were GS (p = 0.019; cutoff: 0.78 m/s) and SMI (p = 0.004; cutoff: 6.7 kg/m²) in males, and HGS (p < 0.001; cutoff: 15.0 kg) and SMI (p < 0.001; cutoff: 5.1 kg/m²) in females.

Conclusions: Baseline SMI, plus GS in males and HGS in females, was associated with IS. These cutoff values may help to characterize individuals with different likelihoods of diagnostic improvement.