Identifying Sarcopenia in Acute Care Setting Patients 
A. P. Rossi et al.
Sarcopenia, the age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a common condition and has important consequences in terms of disability and financial costs. In a recent study Landi et al tested the EWGSOP algorithm in 122 elderly subjects living in a nursing home, but there was a lack of studies investigating the prevalence of sarcopenia in an acute care geriatric hospital setting.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia by applying European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) flow chart in an acute care geriatric unit as well as to test a modified version of the EWGSOP diagnostic algorithm combining handgrip and gait speed test to identify subjects with low muscle mass.

SMI (Skeletal muscle index, present in the EWGSOP algorithm) was calculated with Janssen equation using STA model analyzer from Akern Srl. Due to the increasing application of BIA analysis in the diagnosis of sarcopenia, Akern provides the calculation of SMI with Janssen formula (EWGSOP algorithm for sarcopenia diagnosis ) directly in the new BODYGRAM PLUS SOFTWARE, Interpretive module.

Rossi et al. conclude that 1 of 4 patients admitted to the acute care department were recognized to be sarcopenic. When a modified version of the EWGSOP flow chart, obtained combining both gait speed and handgrip was used, sensitivity and specificity of algorithm to identify subjects with low muscle mass was improved.

JAMDA Volume 15, Issue 4 , Pages 303.e7-303.e12, April 2014
JAMDA 2012 Impact Factor 5.302* — ranked 4th of 46 journals in the Geriatrics & Gerontology category.
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