Skip to main content

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Public Health, 05 August 2024
Sec. Aging and Public Health
This article is part of the Research Topic Effects of Aging on Skeletal Muscle View all 8 articles

The prevalence of sarcopenia and risk factors in the older adult in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shilong Meng&#x;Shilong Meng1Xiaomin He&#x;Xiaomin He2Xinlei FuXinlei Fu3Xu ZhangXu Zhang1Minghao TongMinghao Tong1Wei LiWei Li1Wei ZhangWei Zhang4Xiaolin ShiXiaolin Shi2Kang Liu,
Kang Liu2,4*
  • 1The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
  • 2The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
  • 3The First School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medical, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
  • 4Xianju Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China

Background: Understanding the epidemiological information of a certain disease is the first step in related prevention and control work. This article aims to understand the prevalence and associated risk factors of sarcopenia among the older adult (≥60 years old) in China and to provide an evidence-based basis for early identification, management, and prevention of sarcopenia patients.

Methods: We searched seven databases: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from the establishment of the database until January 31, 2024. The Quality evaluation criteria of cross-sectional studies recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) were used for literature quality evaluation. Stata 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Results: We finally included 45 studies, involving a total of 37,571 cases. After statistical analysis, we found that the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult in China was 20.7% [95% CI (18.3, 23.0%)]. The results of subgroup analysis suggest that: ① According to gender, the prevalence rate of sarcopenia in women (21.6%) is higher than that in men (19.2%); ② According to age, the prevalence rate of older adult people aged ≥80 (45.4%) was the highest, followed by 70–79 (27.2%) and 60–69 (15.7%). ③ According to region, the prevalence rate of the older adult in the south (21.7%) is higher than that in the north (19.0%); ④ According to the time of publication, the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult in China has increased (from 19.2% in 2014–2018 to 21.4% in 2019–2024); ⑤ According to the diagnostic criteria, the detection rate of AWGS (2019) is higher than that of AWGS (2014) (24.5% vs. 19.3%). Finally, aging, low BMI, low leg circumference, smoking, depression, osteoporosis, malnutrition and malnutrition risk are all risk factors for sarcopenia among the older adult in China.

Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult in China was higher (20.7%), which should be paid attention to by relevant health authorities. In addition, aging, low BMI, low calf circumference, smoking, depression, osteoporosis, malnutrition and malnutrition risk are risk factors for the development of sarcopenia in the older adult in China. For these high-risk populations, early identification, prevention, and intervention can be carried out to delay the occurrence and progression of sarcopenia.

1 Introduction

Sarcopenia is a common senile disease, which refers to the symptoms of a decline in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength caused by aging (1). Sarcopenia is highly associated with a variety of adverse outcomes (such as fractures, cognitive decline, metabolic disorders, etc.), and its development process is generally hidden and not easily detected by patients until the occurrence of the above-mentioned adverse consequences (2, 3). Sarcopenia not only seriously affects the quality of life of the older adult, but the follow-up medical care will also bring a heavy economic burden to the family and society (4). An epidemiological study in South Korea showed that the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult aged 60 years and above was about 13.1% (5); Japan also reported that the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult aged 60 years and above was 9.9% (6). A global epidemiological study of sarcopenia shows that: sarcopenia seriously affects the quality of life of 10–16% of the older adult worldwide (7).

Sarcopenia is an aging disease, and with the global trend of the aging population, the phenomenon of sarcopenia in the older adult will become increasingly common (8, 9). As is well known, China has entered a stage of rapid population aging. According to the results of the 7th National Population Census (10): the population aged 60 and above in China is approximately 264 million, accounting for 18.7% of the total population. At present, sarcopenia has received attention from various countries, but a unified diagnostic standard has not yet been established (8, 11). Among them, the most commonly used diagnostic criteria include the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS), and the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS) (1215). These diagnostic criteria all recognize that muscle mass, muscle strength, and daily activity ability are the three important factors for diagnosing sarcopenia. However, due to significant differences in factors such as country, region, diet, environment, and race, accurately assessing the epidemiological situation of sarcopenia and carrying out related prevention and treatment work still pose certain challenges (16).

Collecting epidemiological evidence of sarcopenia in the older adult is the first step to formulating preventive procedures or health care services. In the case of insufficient literature reports, systematic evaluation of prevalence and risk factors data is becoming more and more important for policy formulation and implementation of preventive measures. At present, we find that China has begun to pay attention to the epidemiological information of sarcopenia in the older adult, but the conclusions on its epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, and complications are not satisfactory (1719). At the same time, in the past few years, several large-scale sample studies have been published at home and abroad, which can be used for systematic review and meta-analysis. Therefore, we plan to assess the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among the older adult in China aged 60 and above in China, and provide evidence-based evidence for early identification, management and prevention of sarcopenia among the older adult in China.

2 Methods

2.1 Search strategy

This study is based on the PRISMA statement (20). Because this study is an epidemiological survey, ethical approval is not required. The systematic review and meta-analysis have been registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42023494338. We used the following principles of the PICOS algorithm to guide the initial retrieval:

P (population): China older adult people over 60 years old;

I (intervention): no intervention;

C (comparison): no comparison;

O (outcome): the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among the older adult in China;

S (study): cross-sectional study/retrospective study.

2.2 Literature search

We searched seven databases: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library from the establishment of the database until January 31, 2024. The method of “subject word + the free word” was used to search, and the Chinese search terms were “sarcopenia”; “prevalence, incidence, epidemiology”; “Influencing factors, related factors, risk factors”; English search terms are: “sarcopenia”; “prevalence, incidence, epidemiology”; “risk factor, correlation factor, affecting factor”; “China, Chinese.”

The literature retrieval strategy takes PubMed as an example. The detailed retrieval formula of PubMed is as follows: (“sarcopenia”[MeSH Terms] OR “sarcopenia”[All Fields] OR “sarcopenia s”[All Fields]) AND (“epidemiology”[MeSH Subheading] OR “epidemiology”[All Fields] OR “prevalence”[All Fields] OR “prevalence”[MeSH Terms] OR “prevalance”[All Fields] OR “prevalences”[All Fields] OR “prevalence s”[All Fields] OR “prevalent”[All Fields] OR “prevalently”[All Fields] OR “prevalents”[All Fields] OR (“epidemiology”[MeSH Subheading] OR “epidemiology”[All Fields] OR “incidence”[All Fields] OR “incidence”[MeSH Terms] OR “incidences”[All Fields] OR “incident”[All Fields] OR “incidents”[All Fields]) OR (“epidemiologies”[All Fields] OR “epidemiology”[MeSH Subheading] OR “epidemiology”[All Fields] OR “epidemiology”[MeSH Terms] OR “epidemiology s”[All Fields])) AND ((“risk factors”[MeSH Terms] OR (“risk”[All Fields] AND “factors”[All Fields]) OR “risk factors”[All Fields]) AND ((“correlate”[All Fields] OR “correlated”[All Fields] OR “correlates”[All Fields] OR “correlating”[All Fields] OR “correlation”[All Fields] OR “correlation s”[All Fields] OR “correlations”[All Fields] OR “correlative”[All Fields] OR “correlatives”[All Fields]) AND (“factor”[All Fields] OR “factor s”[All Fields] OR “factors”[All Fields])) AND ((“affect”[MeSH Terms] OR “affect”[All Fields] OR “affects”[All Fields] OR “affected”[All Fields] OR “affecteds”[All Fields] OR “affecting”[All Fields]) AND (“factor”[All Fields] OR “factor s”[All Fields] OR “factors”[All Fields]))) AND (“china”[MeSH Terms] OR “china”[All Fields] OR “china s”[All Fields] OR “chinas”[All Fields] OR (“chineses”[All Fields] OR “east asian people”[MeSH Terms] OR (“east”[All Fields] AND “asian”[All Fields] AND “people”[All Fields]) OR “east asian people”[All Fields] OR “chinese”[All Fields])). (For the specific search process, see Figure 1 and Supplementary File 1).

Figure 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. PubMed retrieval procedure flowchart.

2.3 Literature inclusion and exclusion criteria

2.3.1 Inclusion criteria

① According to the author’s language ability, literature in English, and Chinese were eligible; ② The study subjects include the older adult population aged ≥60 in China; ③ The study includes risk factors that may lead to sarcopenia in the older adult; ④ The definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia were proposed in the study; ⑤ The study provided data on the prevalence of sarcopenia, or data that can be used to calculate the prevalence; ⑥ OR values and 95% CI were provided in the study; and ⑦ Cross-sectional or retrospective studies.

2.3.2 Exclusion criteria

① Repeated published research; ② Research published in the form of reviews, conference abstracts, etc.; ③ Research that cannot obtain full text or extract complete data; ④ The sample size of the older adult is too small (≤100 studies); and ⑤ Low-quality research (AHRQ score < 6 points).

2.4 Literature screening and data extraction

We import the retrieved literature into EndNoteX9.1 software and first remove the duplicate literature. The second step is to make a preliminary screening by reading the titles and abstracts of the literature. Finally, read the rest of the literature in full, and make the final inclusion and exclusion in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In this process, two evaluators (W.L. and X.Z.) independently cross-checked the included literature repeatedly. If there is any dispute, it will be resolved through discussion between the two parties or the introduction of the third researcher (XL.F.) for review.

In the data extraction stage, two researchers (W.L. and X.Z.) independently used Excel tables to extract data. The main contents of the extraction are as follows: (1) Basic information included in the literature: first author, publication year, investigation place, etc. (2) Calculate the prevalence rate of sarcopenia and related data of risk factors; (3) Key information of biased risk assessment. After the data is extracted, it shall be summarized, exchanged, and reviewed. If there is disagreement, it shall be submitted to the third researcher (XL.F.) for review.

2.5 Literature quality evaluation

We adopt the cross-sectional study quality evaluation criteria recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for literature quality evaluation (21). The evaluation criteria consist of 11 items, with a rating scale of 1 point for “yes” and 0 points for “no/unclear.” A total score of 8–11 indicates high quality, 4–7 indicates moderate quality, and 0–3 indicates low quality (see Table 1 for details).

Table 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. AHRQ cross-sectional study quality evaluation standard table.

2.6 Statistics

We used Stata18.0 software to statistically analyze the data on the prevalence rate and risk factors of sarcopenia and analyzed the heterogeneity of the included studies through the Q test and I2 value. If I2 > 50%, and p < 0.1, it shows that there is high heterogeneity among the studies, and the random effect model is used for analysis. Otherwise, the fixed effect model will be used for statistical analysis (22). If the heterogeneity between the included research results is large, it is necessary to further analyze the sources of heterogeneity, and the subgroup analysis method can be used to try to find out the obvious sources of heterogeneity. The subgroups set in this paper include: gender, age, region, publication time, and diagnostic criteria, and the statistical significance p-value in all statistical analyses is set to 0.05.

In this study, we did not check the publication bias. The reasons are as follows: publication bias is a phenomenon in which studies with significant results are easier to publish than those with insignificant results, which may lead to systematic differences between published and unpublished studies (23). However, in the observational study of prevalence, there are no significant or insignificant results, and it is not recommended to use mature methods to test this deviation in the systematic evaluation of prevalence research. Therefore, we did not check the publication bias.

3 Results

3.1 Literature screening process and results

After a preliminary search, we obtained a total of 5,733 related articles, and after a layer-by-layer screening, we finally included 45 studies, with a total of 37,571 subjects. (For the process and results of literature screening, see Figure 2).

Figure 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2. Literature retrieval process diagram.

3.2 Basic characteristics and quality evaluation results of included literature

To ensure the quality of the included literature, we set the inclusion quality standard (AHRQ Score ≥ 6). A total of 45 literatures were included in this study, involving 37,571 older adult people over 60 years old in China in 31 provinces and cities. The general situation and quality evaluation results of the included literature are shown in Table 2. (For the detailed results of literature evaluation, see Supplementary File 2; for the general information of literature, see Supplementary File 3).

Table 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. General information and quality evaluation results of the included literature.

3.3 Meta-analysis results

3.3.1 Meta-analysis of the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult in China

We studied the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult in 45 literatures. The result of the meta-analysis showed that I2 = 97.8%, p < 0.001, which indicated that the heterogeneity among the studies was high. The sensitivity analysis was carried out by the one-by-one elimination method, and no literature that had a significant impact on the overall results was found, so the random effect model was used for combined analysis. Meta-analysis shows that the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult (≥60) in China is 20.7% [95% CI (18.3, 23.0%)], as shown in Figure 3 and Table 3.

Figure 3
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 3. Meta-analysis forest figure of the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult in China.

Table 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3. Summary table of meta-analysis results of prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult in China.

3.3.2 Subgroup analysis of the prevalence of sarcopenia among the older adult in China

Meta-analysis of the prevalence of sarcopenia suggests that there is high heterogeneity among studies. We intend to use subgroup analysis to try to identify the source of clinical heterogeneity. The subgroups in this study included: gender (male; Female), age range (60–69; 70–79; ≥80), region (South/North; With Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River as the boundary, north of Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River is north, and south of Huaihe River is south), publication time (2014–2018; 2019–2024), diagnostic criteria (AWGS2019; AWGS2014). The results of the subgroup analysis are shown in Table 3.

3.3.3 Meta-analysis of the risk factor of sarcopenia among the older adult in China

We included 45 articles related to the risk factors of sarcopenia. After extraction, induction, and data processing by relevant personnel, we found that there were 10 risk factors involved in 2 or more studies. We made a meta-analysis of these risk factors of sarcopenia, and the results showed that aging, low BMI, low leg circumference, smoking, depression, osteoporosis, malnutrition and malnutrition risk were all risk factors of sarcopenia among the older adult in China. The results of the meta-analysis of influencing factors of sarcopenia are shown in Table 4.

Table 4
www.frontiersin.org

Table 4. Summary table of meta-analysis results of risk factors of sarcopenia in the older adult in China.

4 Discussion

4.1 The prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese older adult

In October 2016, sarcopenia was officially included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) disease code, marking that sarcopenia has been recognized as a new type of geriatric syndrome and has attracted worldwide attention (69). In 2021, Petermann-Rocha et al. reported on the global prevalence of sarcopenia (4): the prevalence of sarcopenia in people aged 60 and above in the world is about 10–27%. A Korean meta-analysis reported that (5): the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult aged 60 years and older in Korea was 13.1%. A similar study in Japan reported that the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult (≥60) in Japan was 9.9% (6). Diz et al. (70) reported that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia in older adult people aged 60 years and above in Brazil was 17.0% [95%CI (13.0, 22.0%)]. Our results show that the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult in China is 20.7%, which is much higher than in similar Asian countries such as Japan (9.9%) (6) and South Korea (13.01%) (5). The specific reason may be that these Asian countries entered the aging society earlier than China, and have gradually established medical security systems that adapt to their national conditions. In general, there are differences in diet, environment, culture, and ethnically specific genetics among countries and regions, which may be the main reasons for the differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia among countries.

Subgroup analysis showed that there was an association between gender and the incidence of sarcopenia, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in women than in men. Our results are consistent with Dai, Yang et al. (25, 43). The specific reasons may be related to the following reasons: First, the ovarian function of older adult women after menopause decreases, and the content of metabolic hormones (such as estradiol and androgen) in the body will also decrease, which seriously affects the generation of muscle cells and protein synthesis (71). On the other hand, women are more focused on body image management, leading to inadequate nutrient intake, which may also be related to the higher prevalence of sarcopenia in women. However, Chinese scholars Ren, Chen et al. reported the opposite result (17, 19): the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adult Chinese men was higher. They suggest that this difference may be related to the unhealthy lifestyle of men (such as smoking and drinking). As we age, the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle may significantly increase, and these factors can all contribute to sarcopenia (5). In addition, a 12-year cohort study in Japan showed that (72): men were more likely to experience muscle mass loss than women. About this difference, we suggest that future multi-center, large-sample prospective studies can be conducted to continue to explore the relationship between gender and the occurrence of sarcopenia in the older adult, to better implement precise prevention.

Sarcopenia is a well-recognized age-related degenerative condition. With the global rise in aging populations, the prevalence of sarcopenia is expected to increase significantly. This was also confirmed in our study: by age, the prevalence was highest in the older age group ≥80 years (45.4%), followed by 70–79 years (27.2%), and finally 60–69 years (15.7%). Under normal physiological conditions, human skeletal muscle mass reaches its peak at around 25 years of age, and then the number and volume of skeletal muscle fibers begin to decline, and the decline rate gradually accelerates with the increase of age, which is the result of synergistic regulation of multiple aging mechanisms in the human body (1). In addition, with the growth of age, the incidence of various basic diseases in the older adult will also increase, which will also affect the regulation of various hormones and the absorption of nutrients, thereby indirectly affecting the decline of muscle mass (73). Compared with the north (19.0%), the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in the older adult in the south (21.7%). Our study was consistent with Mao et al. (74), but some studies reported the opposite result (17). China’s vast territory, the climate environment, and the dietary habits of different regions are quite different, which may be the main reason for the difference in prevalence. The climate in the north is mostly cold. Due to the influence of climate, the local people’s diet mainly includes “beef and mutton, dairy products and nuts,” and the incidence of malnutrition and malnutrition risk is relatively low (75). So far, there are few studies on regional differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia in China, which can be further verified with more relevant epidemiological studies in the future.

In addition to the differences in demographic characteristics, the different diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia also directly affect the detection rate of sarcopenia. Based on the fact that China is in Asia, and to ensure the comparability of this study in Asian populations, we selected AWGS for subgroup analysis in terms of diagnostic criteria. Compared with AWGS (2014), the latest AWGS (2019) has significantly improved the evaluation criteria of walking speed and male grip strength (among which, walking speed has been increased from 0.8 m/s to 1.0 m/s, and male grip strength has been increased from 26 kg to 28 kg). As a result, the AWGS (2019) will have a higher rate of sarcopenia detection, and our study also confirms this result. Domestic studies on the evaluation of sarcopenia in the older adult based on AWGS (2014) criteria also generally reported a low incidence [Xinxiang 13.1% (47), Chengdu 10.6% (61), Tianjin 9.3% (63)]. Finally, in the last 5 years, the prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult in China has been on the rise. It increased from 19.2% in 2014–2018 to 21.4% in 2019–2024. We infer that this difference may be due to past and present differences in health and medical resources. At the same time, the widening of diagnostic criteria may also be one of the reasons for the significant increase in the prevalence of sarcopenia reported in China in recent years.

4.2 The risk factor of sarcopenia in Chinese older adult

The occurrence of sarcopenia in the older adult is related to many factors. Our study shows that aging, low BMI, low calf circumference, smoking, depression, osteoporosis, malnutrition and malnutrition risk are risk factors for sarcopenia in the older adult in China.

There is no doubt that aging is one of the risk factors for sarcopenia. Pang et al. reported the epidemiology of sarcopenia in the Singapore community population (76): the prevalence of sarcopenia was 13.6% in the community as a whole (21–90 years), but 32% in people over 60 years of age. A study in Thailand also found that (77): older adult people (≥80 years old) had the highest prevalence of sarcopenia (68%). A 12-year prospective population study in Sweden showed that (78): even subjects without sarcopenia had a 5.1% probability of developing suspected sarcopenia over 10 years. This is consistent with our findings that the older people get, the higher their risk of sarcopenia.

Secondly, bad lifestyle habits can also affect the prevalence of sarcopenia, of which smoking is considered to be a risk factor for sarcopenia. Previous studies have reported that the risk of sarcopenia in older adult smokers in Asia is 2.69 times that of non-smokers (79). The risk of sarcopenia among older smokers in Europe is 2.36 times that of non-smokers (80). We speculate that the reason may be related to the following reasons: on the one hand, smoking directly damages the health of skeletal muscle. Smoking can damage muscle metabolism, increase inflammation and oxidative stress, increase the overexpression of genes related to muscle atrophy, and activate various intracellular signaling pathways, thus causing skeletal muscle injury (81). On the other hand, smoking will increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (82), thus increasing energy consumption and reducing the activity capacity of the older adult, indirectly leading to the occurrence of sarcopenia. Therefore, not smoking or quitting early may be important for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

There is also a link between depression, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. Turkish scholar Olgun-Yazar et al. pointed out that (83): depression and sarcopenia are closely related. Symptoms associated with depression, such as weakness, loss of appetite, and decreased activity, may contribute to the onset and progression of sarcopenia (84). Meanwhile, some inflammatory cytokines secreted by the musculoskeletal system are closely related to the occurrence of depression, such as IL-6, TNF-a, and 5-HT (85). In the early prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, it is necessary to pay attention to and care for the depressed older adult.

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone metabolic disease characterized by low bone mass and mass, which can increase susceptibility to sarcopenia (86). Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are both associated with aging, low quality of life, and low condition of health, and they often occur together. At present, some scholars have shown that there is a close relationship between muscle and bone, namely, osteosarcopenia, and sarcopenia-osteoporosis (87, 88). Maurel et al. (89) investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis and showed that osteoporosis increases the risk of developing sarcopenia. Our study also found that osteoporosis is a risk factor for sarcopenia. Specific reasons may be related to the connection between muscle and bone. For example, Bone cells secrete osteocalcin, insulin-like, etc., affecting muscle quality and function, and the decrease of bone cells will lead to the decline of muscle mass and function (90). Therefore, we should pay attention to the role of bone health in the occurrence of sarcopenia, and reduce the incidence of sarcopenia while maintaining bone health in the older adult.

Finally, there is also a close relationship between the nutritional status of the body and sarcopenia (91). BMI and calf circumference can be used to evaluate the nutritional status of the older adult. Among them, calf circumference is currently recognized as an alternative marker of muscle mass and is used as one of the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia (92, 93). To a certain extent, BMI can also reflect the nutritional status of the body. A higher BMI is a protective factor for sarcopenia and is positively correlated with muscle mass (94). It is worth noting that there is a special condition here, that is, sarcopenic obesity. This is a condition that occurs based on excessive obesity, with decreased muscle tissue and increased fat infiltration between muscle fibers and muscle cells (10, 12). Medical and health workers should pay attention to health education: the older adult can properly maintain a high BMI level under the premise of not obesity. In addition, physiological evidence shows that when the body is in poor nutritional condition, amino acids, and muscles are broken down and oxidized to produce energy to maintain normal life functions. If sustained for a longer period, it will result in a negative nitrogen balance, as well as a gradual loss of muscle mass and function (95). In addition, poor nutritional status can also lead to micronutrient deficiencies (such as vitamin D and vitamin B12), which further leads to muscle loss and decreased function (96, 97). In conclusion, timely screening and assessment of the nutritional status of the older adult may be an effective strategy for early detection, diagnosis, and management of patients with sarcopenia. Proven and easy-to-use nutrition screening tools are necessary, such as a simple nutritional assessment profile (Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, MNA – SF) can be used to determine the nutritional status of the older adult and the poor nutrition risk (98).

So far, this study is currently the most geographically diverse and has the highest number of subjects in the epidemiological study of sarcopenia in older adult people in China, and involves risk factors for sarcopenia. We reported the latest data and risk factors for sarcopenia in older adult people aged 60 and above in China. We conducted differences in gender, age, region (southern/northern), diagnostic criteria, and other factors through subgroup analysis. These works provide more information and evidence-based evidence for the epidemiology of sarcopenia and are the first step in developing preventive measures or health services for the older adult. In addition, our study also found that aging, low BMI, low calf circumference, smoking, depression, osteoporosis, malnutrition and malnutrition risk are risk factors for the development of sarcopenia in the older adult in China. For the older adult population with high-risk factors, timely prevention and screening is very necessary.

There are some limitations to the study. First, we collected representative data for each region but were limited by the characteristics of individual studies and differences between different cities, which may affect comparisons between included studies. Secondly, some studies reported prevalence rates for different age groups and different risk factors, and relevant data could not be included in subgroups, resulting in fewer studies included in some subgroups (such as smoking, malnutrition, and malnutrition, etc. risk factors), which may also affect comparisons between included studies. Finally, this study is based primarily on evidence from observational studies that cannot provide information about causation for the observed associations. Currently, there is a lack of high-quality prospective cohort studies on sarcopenia, especially in exploring the risk factors for sarcopenia. In addition to focusing on clinical patients susceptible to sarcopenia, cohort studies with accurate measurements of muscle quantity and function in the general healthy population are needed to provide evidence for developing primary prevention strategies.

5 Conclusion

The results of this study show that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia in the older adult aged 60 and above in China is relatively high (20.7%), and it shows a gradual increasing trend in the past 5 years. This phenomenon should arouse the attention and concern of public health departments. Finally, we suggest that the public health sector should carry out early screening, intervention, and management of sarcopenia promptly, especially for the older adult population with high-risk factors (such as osteoporosis and depression).

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

SM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Project administration, Software. XH: Writing – original draft, Data curation, Investigation, Software, Writing – review & editing. XF: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Formal analysis, Software. XZ: Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Software. MT: Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Project administration, Software, Supervision, Validation. WL: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Methodology, Software. WZ: Writing – original draft, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Software. XS: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Supervision. KL: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82274272); Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration (2022ZZ020); and Department of Education of Zhejiang Province (Y202248737). These funders had no role in the study design, data collection, and analysis, interpretation of data, and writing the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

We thank all our colleagues in the Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics at Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1415398/full#supplementary-material

SUPPLEMENTARY FILE 1 | The detailed information of literature retrieval strategy.

SUPPLEMENTARY FILE 2 | The detailed results of literature evaluation.

SUPPLEMENTARY FILE 3 | The general information of included literature.

SUPPLEMENTARY FILE 4 | The corresponding PRISMA checklist.

References

1. Cui, H, Wang, Z, Wu, J, Liu, Y, Zheng, J, Xiao, W, et al. Chinese expert consensus on prevention and intervention for elderly with sarcopenia (2023). Aging Med. (2023) 6:104–15. doi: 10.1002/agm2.12245

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Xia, L, Zhao, R, Wan, Q, Wu, Y, Zhou, Y, Wang, Y, et al. Sarcopenia and adverse health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies. Cancer Med. (2020) 9:7964–78. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3428

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, and Sayer, AA. Sarcopenia. Lancet. (2019) 393:2636–46. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31138-9

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Petermann-Rocha, F, Balntzi, V, Gray, SR, Lara, J, Ho, FK, Pell, JP, et al. Global prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. (2022) 13:86–99. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12783

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Choo, YJ, and Chang, MC. Prevalence of sarcopenia among the elderly in Korea: a meta-analysis. J Preven Med Public Health. (2021) 54:96–102. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.21.046

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Makizako, H, Nakai, Y, Tomioka, K, and Taniguchi, Y. Prevalence of sarcopenia defined using the Asia working Group for Sarcopenia criteria in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phys Ther Res. (2019) 22:53–7. doi: 10.1298/ptr.R0005

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Yuan, S, and Larsson, SC. Epidemiology of sarcopenia: prevalence, risk factors, and consequences. Metab Clin Exp. (2023) 144:155533. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155533

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Sayer, AA, and Cruz-Jentoft, A. Sarcopenia definition, diagnosis and treatment: consensus is growing. Age Ageing. (2022) 51:afac220. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac220

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Bauer, J, Morley, JE, Schols, A, Ferrucci, L, Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, Dent, E, et al. Sarcopenia: a time for action. An SCWD position paper. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. (2019) 10:956–61. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12483

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

10. National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Leading Group of the Seventh National Population Census of the State Council. Bulletin of the 7th National Population Census (no. 5) – age composition of the population. China Stat. (2021) 5:10–1.

Google Scholar

11. Coletta, G, and Phillips, SM. An elusive consensus definition of sarcopenia impedes research and clinical treatment: a narrative review. Ageing Res Rev. (2023) 86:101883. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101883

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, Bahat, G, Bauer, J, Boirie, Y, Bruyère, O, Cederholm, T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. (2019) 48:16–31. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afy169

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Chen, LK, Liu, LK, Woo, J, Assantachai, P, Auyeung, TW, Bahyah, KS, et al. Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2014) 15:95–101. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.11.025

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Fielding, RA, Vellas, B, Evans, WJ, Bhasin, S, Morley, JE, Newman, AB, et al. Sarcopenia: an undiagnosed condition in older adults. Current consensus definition: prevalence, etiology, and consequences. International working group on sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2011) 12:249–56. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2011.01.003

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, Baeyens, JP, Bauer, JM, Boirie, Y, Cederholm, T, Landi, F, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: report of the European working group on sarcopenia in older people. Age Ageing. (2010) 39:412–23. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afq034

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Dent, E, Morley, JE, Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, Arai, H, Kritchevsky, SB, Guralnik, J, et al. International clinical practice guidelines for sarcopenia (ICFSR): screening, diagnosis and management. J Nutr Health Aging. (2018) 22:1148–61. doi: 10.1007/s12603-018-1139-9

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Ren, X, Zhang, X, He, Q, du, L, Chen, K, Chen, S, et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling elderly: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. (2022) 22:1702. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13909-z

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Xin, C, Sun, X, Lu, L, and Shan, L. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older Chinese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. (2021) 11:e041879. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041879

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Chen, Z, Li, WY, Ho, M, and Chau, PH. The prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese older adults: meta-analysis and meta-regression. Nutrients. (2021) 13:1441. doi: 10.3390/nu13051441

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Moher, D, Shamseer, L, Clarke, M, Ghersi, D, Liberati, A, Petticrew, M, et al. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Syst Rev. (2015) 4:1. doi: 10.1186/2046-4053-4-1

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Zeng, XT, Liu, H, Chen, X, and Leng, WD. Meta-analysis series IV: quality evaluation tools for observational studies. Chinese J Evid Based Cardiovasc Med. (2012) 4:297–9. doi: 10.3969/j.1674-4055.2012.04.004

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Higgins, JP, and Thompson, SG. Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med. (2002) 21:1539–58. doi: 10.1002/sim.1186

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Easterbrook, PJ, Gopalan, R, Berlin, JA, and Matthews, DR. Publication bias in clinical research. Lancet. (1991) 337:867–72. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)90201-Y

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Wang, J, Hu, L, Yang, Z, and Han, P. Cross-sectional investigation on the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia in elderly people in some areas of Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. J Tissue Eng. (2024) 28:2197–201. doi: 10.12307/2024.330

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Dai, S, Wang, S, He, Y, Dai, C, Yu, J, and Ma, X. Association between anemia and sarcopenia among Chinese elderly: a cross-sectional study based on the China health and retirement longitudinal study. Exp Gerontol. (2023) 177:112183. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112183

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Wan, R, Shang, Y, Wan, Y, and Zhao, SH. Study on incidence and influencing factors of inpatients with sarcopenia based on body composition analysis. Chinese J Geriatr Med. (2023) 21:59–63. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-2671.2023.04.012

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Zou, HY, Wang, YH, Gao, M, Li, GD, Gao, LS, and Ma, ZZ. Status and influencing factors of sarcopenia among elderly people in the community. J Pract Gerontol. (2023) 37:246–50. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2023.03.009

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

28. Ma, JD, Wang, L, Cai, TT, Jiao, XF, and Chen, QP. Status and influencing factors of sarcopenia in inpatients with abdominal surgery. Chinese J Gen Surg. (2023) 17:69–74. doi: 10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-0793.2023.01.015

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

29. Chen, JW, Li, ZY, Peng, K, Xiao, L, and Liu, X. Prevalence and prediction model construction of sarcopenia among elderly people in Xiangtan City. Chinese J Geriatr Multi Organ Dis. (2019) 22:663–8. doi: 10.11915/j.issn.1671-5403.2023.09.139

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Musha, TJGL, Maimaitiwusiman, ZY, Bai, X, Xiang, H, and Wang, HM. Investigation of sarcopenia in the aged natural population. China Sci Technol J Database Med. (2023) 12:13–6.

Google Scholar

31. He, X, Song, Y, Ma, L, Ainsworth, BE, Liu, Y, and Chen, N. Prevalence and factors influencing sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults using the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia Definition. Clin Interv Aging. (2022) 17:1707–27. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S388319

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

32. Zhong, J, Xie, W, Wang, X, Dong, X, Mo, Y, Liu, D, et al. The prevalence of sarcopenia among Hunan Province community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older and its relationship with lifestyle: diagnostic criteria from the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 update. Medicina. (2022) 58:1562. doi: 10.3390/medicina58111562

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Tang, J, Zhang, LN, Gerile, WY, and Geer, DL. Prevalence and related factors of sarcopenia among elderly people in Inner Mongolia. Nursing. (2022) 11:753–62. doi: 10.12677/NS.2022.116117

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Han, T, Qian, XF, Wang, QF, Cheng, XC, Guo, JM, and Xiao, JQ. Analysis of influencing factors on the risk of sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients based on logistic regression and decision tree model. J Nurs. (2022) 29:56–62. doi: 10.16460/j.issn1008-9969.2022.12.056

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Li, DH, Tian, XF, Ma, HM, Zhang, KX, Liu, HB, Zhang, HT, et al. Prevalence and influencing factors of sarcopenia among elderly people in Tianjin. Chinese Convalescent Medicine. (2022) 31:633–7. doi: 10.13517/j.cnki.ccm.2022.06.022

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

36. Zhang, XL . Status and influencing factors of sarcopenia in the elderly of Bai nationality in Wanqiao town, Dali University. (2022). doi: 10.27811/d.cnki.gdixy.2022.000206

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

37. Li, CC, Zhang, FY, Wang, X, Yu, LX, Wang, L, and Fu, ML. Investigation and analysis of incidence, TCM syndrome type distribution and influencing factors of sarcopenia in some areas of Zhejiang Province. Chinese Modern Doctor. (2022) 60:14–17+22.

Google Scholar

38. Ko, YC, Chie, WC, Wu, TY, Ho, CY, and Yu, WR. A cross-sectional study about the relationship between physical activity and sarcopenia in Taiwanese older adults. Sci Rep. (2021) 11:11488. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90869-1

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

39. Chang, CF, Yeh, YL, Chang, HY, Tsai, SH, and Wang, JY. Prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among older adults aged ≥65 years admitted to Daycare Centers of Taiwan: using AWGS 2019 guidelines. Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2021) 18:8299. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168299

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

40. Pan, SQ, Li, YM, Li, XF, and Xiong, R. Sarcopenia in geriatric patients from the plateau region of Qinghai-Tibet: a cross-sectional study. World J Clin Cases. (2021) 9:5092–101. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.5092

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

41. Zhang, TY, Mo, YZ, Ouyang, XJ, Pan, XD, Wang, J, Shen, XX, et al. Prevalence and related factors of sarcopenia in hospitalized elderly patients. J Gerontol Health Care. (2021) 27:64–7. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1008-8296.2021.01.016

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

42. Liu, X, Hou, L, Xia, X, Liu, Y, Zuo, Z, Zhang, Y, et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia in multi ethnics adults and the association with cognitive impairment: findings from West-China health and aging trend study. BMC Geriatr. (2020) 20:63. doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-1468-5

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

43. Yang, L, Yao, X, Shen, J, Sun, G, Sun, Q, Tian, X, et al. Comparison of revised EWGSOP criteria and four other diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling elderly residents. Exp Gerontol. (2020) 130:110798. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110798

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

44. Chen, S, Yu, J, Di, WJ, Lin, W, Sheng, YL, and Zhu, QQ. Epidemiological investigation and influencing factors of senile sarcopenia in Nanjing community. Pract Gerontol. (2020) 34:793–6. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2020.08.010

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

45. Xu, TY, Xu, XH, and Zhang, R. Correlation analysis of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and sarcopenia in elderly patients. J Gerontol Health Care. (2020) 26:976–9. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1008-8296.2020.06.021

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

46. Liang, YH, Xue, L, Gao, YY, Hou, YP, and Wang, XJ. Analysis of sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients and its influencing factors. Chin J Gerontol. (2020) 39:1042–5. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-9026.2020.09.012

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

47. Meng, XY . Status and influencing factors of sarcopenia in the elderly: a case study of the elderly in Xinxiang City, Xinxiang Medical College. (2020). doi: 10.27434/d.cnki.gxxyc.2020.000127

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

48. Che, YJ, Yang, XX, Zhang, K, Wang, YN, Wang, YS, and Yan, P. Prevalence and related factors of sarcopenia among elderly people in Urumqi city. Chinese J Osteoporosis Bone Min Salt Dis. (2019) 13:304–10. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-2591.2020.04.004

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

49. Tian, XL, Yang, L, Shen, J, Li, XX, Li, X, and Xiao, H. Prevalence and influencing factors of sarcopenia among middle-aged and elderly in Midong District community of Urumqi City. Chinese J Osteoporosis Bone Mineral Salt Dis. (2020) 13:21–6. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-2591.2020.01.004

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

50. Yang, LJ, Wu, GH, Yang, YL, Wu, YH, Zhang, L, Wang, MH, et al. Nutrition, physical exercise, and the prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly residents in nursing homes in China. Med Sci Monitor. (2019) 25:4390–9. doi: 10.12659/MSM.914031

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

51. Yao, SH . Prevalence, risk factors and correlation analysis of sarcopenia and osteoporosis in elderly hospitalized patients. (2019).

Google Scholar

52. Liu, LL, Zhao, KX, Luo, C, Xiao, Q, and Zhou, J. Prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among middle-aged and elderly people in Chongqing city. Chinese Gen Med. (2019) 17:1762–7. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.001050

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

53. He, QH, Sun, M, Yue, YF, Wang, XZ, Jing, HJ, and Yang, CZ. Prevalence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Beijing and its influencing factors. Chinese J Diabetes. (2019) 11:328–33. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-5809.2019.05.004

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

54. Hao, Q, Hu, X, Xie, L, Chen, J, Jiang, J, Dong, B, et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in hospitalised older patients: a cross-sectional study. Australas J Ageing. (2018) 37:62–7. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12492

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

55. Zeng, Y, Hu, X, Xie, L, Han, Z, Zuo, Y, and Yang, M. The prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese elderly nursing home residents: a comparison of 4 diagnostic criteria. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2018) 19:690–5. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.04.015

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

56. Zhang, Y, Tan, YT, Huang, XX, Zhang, ZH, Bai, JJ, Zhang, M, et al. Prevalence and related risk factors of sarcopenia among elderly people in Shanghai. J Gerontol Health Care. (2018) 24:608–13. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1008-8296.2018.06.014

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

57. Wang, YT, Hao, QK, Su, L, Hai, S, Wang, H, Cao, L, et al. Study on the relationship between sarcopenia and impaired cognitive function in Chinese community elderly. J Sichuan Univ. (2018) 49:793–6. doi: 10.13464/j.scuxbyxb.2018.05.022

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

58. Yang, LJ . Research on related factors of sarcopenia in the elderly in Suzhou City, Nanjing Medical University. (2018)

Google Scholar

59. Liao, SW, Liu, LL, Zhao, KX, Zhu, QL, Luo, C, Lv, Q, et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia and related risk factors in nursing homes in Chongqing. Int J Gerontol. (2018) 39:1–5. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-7593.2018.01.001

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

60. Wang, YN, Xu, JL, and Song, HL. Investigation and analysis of the status quo and influencing factors of sarcopenia in the elderly. Modern Clin Nurs. (2018) 17:45–50. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-8283.2018.09.009

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

61. Hai, S, Cao, L, Wang, H, Zhou, J, Liu, P, Yang, Y, et al. Association between sarcopenia and nutritional status and physical activity among community-dwelling Chinese adults aged 60 years and older. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2017) 17:1959–66. doi: 10.1111/ggi.13001

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

62. Hu, X, Jiang, J, Wang, H, Zhang, L, Dong, B, and Yang, M. Association between sleep duration and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study. Medicine. (2017) 96:e6268. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006268

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

63. Han, P, Kang, L, Guo, Q, Wang, J, Zhang, W, Shen, S, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in suburb-dwelling older Chinese using the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia Definition. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. (2016) 71:529–35. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glv108

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

64. Xia, Z, Meng, L, Man, Q, Li, L, Song, P, Li, Y, et al. Analysis of the dietary factors on sarcopenia in elderly in Beijing. J Hyg Res. (2016) 45:388–93.

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

65. Gao, L, Jiang, J, Yang, M, Hao, Q, Luo, L, and Dong, B. Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in Chinese community-dwelling elderly: comparison between rural and urban areas. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2015) 16:1003.e1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2015.07.020

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

66. Meng, NH, Li, CI, Liu, CS, Lin, CH, Lin, WY, Chang, CK, et al. Comparison of height-and weight-adjusted sarcopenia in a Taiwanese metropolitan older population. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2015) 15:45–53. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12227

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

67. Wu, CH, Chen, KT, Hou, MT, Chang, YF, Chang, CS, Liu, PY, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia in older Taiwanese living in rural community: the Tianliao old people study 04. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2014) 14:69–75. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12233

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

68. Yu, R, Wong, M, Leung, J, Lee, J, Auyeung, TW, and Woo, J. Incidence, reversibility, risk factors and the protective effect of high body mass index against sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Chinese adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2014) 14:15–28. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12220

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

69. Anker, SD, Morley, JE, and Von Haehling, S. Welcome to the ICD-10 code for sarcopenia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. (2016) 7:512–4. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12147

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

70. Diz, JB, Leopoldino, AA, Moreira, BS, Henschke, N, Dias, RC, Pereira, LS, et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older Brazilians: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2017) 17:5–16. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12720

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

71. Laakkonen, EK, Soliymani, R, and Lalowski, M. Estrogen regulates muscle bioenergetic signaling. Aging. (2018) 10:160–1. doi: 10.18632/aging.101380

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

72. Shimokata, H, Ando, F, Yuki, A, and Otsuka, R. Age-related changes in skeletal muscle mass among community-dwelling Japanese: a 12-year longitudinal study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (2014) 14:85–92. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12219

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

73. Papadopoulou, SK, Tsintavis, P, Potsaki, P, and Papandreou, D. Differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia in community-dwelling, nursing home and hospitalized individuals. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nutr Health Aging. (2020) 24:83–90. doi: 10.1007/s12603-019-1267-x

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

74. Mao, S, Zhao, A, Zhang, J, Wang, M, Wang, Y, Meng, L, et al. Association between dietary energy and protein intake and sarcopenia among the elderly in 8 cities across China. J Hyg Res. (2021) 50:242–55. doi: 10.19813/j.cnki.weishengyanjiu.2021.02.013

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

75. Ji, CH, Pei, HL, Li, Y, Jiang, Y, and Luo, ZH. Influencing factors and correlation of dietary patterns on sarcopenia in middle-aged and elderly people in Xinjiang. Chinese J Food Nutr. (2019) 28:73–9. doi: 10.19870/j.cnki.11-3716/ts.2022.10.006

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

76. Pang, BWJ, Wee, SL, Lau, LK, Jabbar, KA, Seah, WT, Ng, DHM, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in Singaporean adults-the Yishun study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2021) 22:885.e1–885.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.05.029

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

77. Khongsri, N, Tongsuntud, S, Limampai, P, and Kuptniratsaikul, V. The prevalence of sarcopenia and related factors in a community-dwelling elders Thai population. Osteoporosis Sarcopenia. (2016) 2:110–5. doi: 10.1016/j.afos.2016.05.001

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

78. Trevisan, C, Vetrano, DL, Calvani, R, Picca, A, and Welmer, AK. Twelve-year sarcopenia trajectories in older adults: results from a population-based study. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. (2022) 13:254–63. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12875

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

79. Wu, LC, Kao, HH, Chen, HJ, and Huang, PF. Preliminary screening for sarcopenia and related risk factors among the elderly. Medicine. (2021) 100:e25946. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025946

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

80. Locquet, M, Bruyère, O, Lengelé, L, Reginster, JY, and Beaudart, C. Relationship between smoking and the incidence of sarcopenia: the SarcoPhAge cohort. Public Health. (2021) 193:101–8. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.01.017

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

81. Kim, JY, Oh, S, Park, HY, Jun, JH, and Kim, HJ. Author correction: comparisons of different indices of low muscle mass in relationship with cardiometabolic disorder. Sci Rep. (2020) 10:750. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-57828-8

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

82. Mackenbach, JP, Damhuis, RA, and Been, JV. The effects of smoking on health: growth of knowledge reveals even grimmer picture. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. (2017) 160:D869.

Google Scholar

83. Olgun Yazar, H, and Yazar, T. Prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with geriatric depression diagnosis. Ir J Med Sci. (2019) 188:931–8. doi: 10.1007/s11845-018-01957-7

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

84. Byeon, CH, Kang, KY, Kang, SH, Kim, HK, and Bae, EJ. Sarcopenia is not associated with depression in Korean adults: results from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and nutrition examination survey. Korean J Fam Med. (2016) 37:37–43. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.1.37

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

85. Zhang, XT, Wang, Y, and Li, L. Research status of the relationship between et al inflammatory factors and other depression-related factors. Chinese J Clin Pharmacol. (2018) 34:2568–71. doi: 10.13699/j.cnki.1001-6821.2018.21.024

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

86. Yang, Q, and Chan, P. Skeletal muscle metabolic alternation develops sarcopenia. Aging Dis. (2022) 13:801–14. doi: 10.14336/AD.2021.1107

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

87. Huang, HX, Shi, XL, Li, SH, et al. Expert consensus on sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Chinese J Osteoporosis. (2022) 28:1561–70. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7108.2022.11.001

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

88. Papadopoulou, SK, Papadimitriou, K, Voulgaridou, G, Georgaki, E, Tsotidou, E, Zantidou, O, et al. Exercise and nutrition impact on osteoporosis and sarcopenia-the incidence of osteosarcopenia: a narrative review. Nutrients. (2021) 13:4499. doi: 10.3390/nu13124499

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

89. Maurel, DB, Jähn, K, and Lara-Castillo, N. Muscle-bone crosstalk: emerging opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches to treat musculoskeletal pathologies. Biomedicines. (2017) 5:62. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines5040062

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

90. Lin, X, Hanson, E, Betik, AC, Brennan-Speranza, TC, Hayes, A, and Levinger, I. Hindlimb immobilization, but not castration, induces reduction of undercarboxylated osteocalcin associated with muscle atrophy in rats. J Bone Miner Res Off J Am Soc Bone Miner Res. (2016) 31:1967–78. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.2884

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

91. Chew, STH, Tey, SL, Yalawar, M, Liu, Z, Baggs, G, How, CH, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults at risk of malnutrition. BMC Geriatr. (2022) 22:997. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03704-1

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

92. Chen, LK, Woo, J, Assantachai, P, Auyeung, TW, Chou, MY, Iijima, K, et al. Asian working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment. J Am Med Dir Assoc. (2020) 21:300–307.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.12.012

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

93. Cruz-Jentoft, AJ, Bahat, G, Bauer, J, Boirie, Y, Bruyère, O, Cederholm, T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. (2019) 48:601. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afz046

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

94. Volpato, S, Bianchi, L, Cherubini, A, Landi, F, Maggio, M, Savino, E, et al. Prevalence and clinical correlates of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older people: application of the EWGSOP definition and diagnostic algorithm. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. (2014) 69:438–46. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glt149

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

95. Prado, CM, Landi, F, Chew, STH, Atherton, PJ, Molinger, J, Ruck, T, et al. Advances in muscle health and nutrition: a toolkit for healthcare professionals. Clin Nutr. (2022) 41:2244–63. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.07.041

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

96. Chae, SA, Kim, HS, Lee, JH, Yun, DH, Chon, J, Yoo, MC, et al. Impact of vitamin B12 insufficiency on sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2021) 18:12433. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312433

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

97. Dzik, KP, and Kaczor, JJ. Mechanisms of vitamin D on skeletal muscle function: oxidative stress, energy metabolism and anabolic state. Eur J Appl Physiol. (2019) 119:825–39. doi: 10.1007/s00421-019-04104-x

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

98. Skipper, A, Coltman, A, Tomesko, J, Charney, P, Porcari, J, Piemonte, TA, et al. Adult malnutrition (undernutrition) screening: an evidence analysis Center systematic review. J Acad Nutr Diet. (2020) 120:669–708. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.09.010

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: sarcopenia, prevalence, risk factors, older adult, Chinese, meta-analysis

Citation: Meng S, He X, Fu X, Zhang X, Tong M, Li W, Zhang W, Shi X and Liu K (2024) The prevalence of sarcopenia and risk factors in the older adult in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Public Health. 12:1415398. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1415398

Received: 10 April 2024; Accepted: 25 July 2024;
Published: 05 August 2024.

Edited by:

Craig Willis, University of Bradford, United Kingdom

Reviewed by:

Queran Lin, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Shirin Djalalinia, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran

Copyright © 2024 Meng, He, Fu, Zhang, Tong, Li, Zhang, Shi and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Kang Liu, Liukang1982@163.com

These authors have contributed equally to this work

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.