Background This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia among urban community-dwelling adults in Thailand, using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS-2019) criteria. Methods This cross-sectional study comprising 892 older adults aged > 60 years analyzed data from a cohort study (Bangkok Falls study; 2019–2021). The appendicular skeletal muscle mass was evaluated using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) method. Physical performance and muscle strength were evaluated using the five-time sit-to-stand and handgrip strength tests, respectively. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with sarcopenia. Results The prevalence rates of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 22.2% and 9.4%, respectively. Age ≥ 70 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.67–3.45), body mass index (BMI) of < 18.5 kg/m2 (aOR, 8.79; 95% CI, 4.44–17.39), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score of < 24 (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.24–2.48), and a six-item cognitive screening test score of ≥ 8 (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.08–12.15) were associated with sarcopenia. Likewise, age ≥ 70 years, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, and an MNA score of < 24 predicted severe sarcopenia. Conclusion One-third of the urban community-dwelling older Thai adults had sarcopenia or severe sarcopenia. The age ≥ 70 years, low BMI, and inadequate nutrition increased the risk of both sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia while impaired cognitive functions predicted only sarcopenia in this population.

BackgroundThe Bangkok falls study aimed to identify fall-associated factors, including home healthcare hazards, nutritional status, hydration status, sarcopenia, frailty, locomotive syndrome, and health status of urban older adults in a middle-income country.Methods This was a population-based cohort study that enrolled adults who lived in Bangkok, Thailand. Our study recruited older adults aged ≥ 60 years old, able to walk, and expected to live in the community for at least 2 years. The study had three phases included; phase 1: subject identification and terminology clarification. Phase 2: we collected data at community sites on baseline characteristic and fall risk identification. Examinations and laboratory investigations were scheduled for one month later. Phase 3: telephone follow up for falls rate, functional status and death at 3, 6, 12 months.Results A total 1,001(51.84%) people were enrolled for our study. The average age of our study was 69.9 years old (SD, 6.8), and two-thirds were female. Using “Stopping Elderly Accidents, Death and Injuries” (STEADI) screening fall risk, our study found that 37.7% had scores ≥ 4, which means that there is a risk of fall. In addition, the risk of falls increased among older adults aged 75–84 years (49.5%) and older adults aged ≥ 85 years (67.7%) (P-value < 0.001).ConclusionThis study demonstrated the feasibility of conducting a population-based cohort study among urban older adults in a middle-income country using the local community healthcare system. Our study have a tendency to provide data source for fall risk factors and disability in older adults.

Introduction: Dehydration is associated with morbidity, and many factors affect dehydration in older adults including age and medication use. This study determined the prevalence of hypertonic dehydration (HD) and factors affecting HD in older adults and developed a risk score (a set of consistent weights that assign a numerical value to each risk factor) which are potentially useful in predicting HD among community-dwelling Thai older adults. Methods: Data were obtained from a cohort study of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years in Bangkok, Thailand between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021. Current HD was defined as a serum osmolality >300 mOsm/kg. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with current and impending HD. The risk score for current HD was developed based on the final multiple logistic regression model. Results: A total of 704 participants were included in the final analysis. In this study, 59 (8.4%) participants had current HD and 152 (21.6%) had impending HD. We identified three risk factors for HD in older adults; age ≥ 75 years (adjusted odds ratio (aORs) 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-3.46), underlying diabetes mellitus (aORs 3.07, 95%CI: 1.77-5.31) and use of ß-blocker medication (aORs 1.98, 95%CI: 1.04-3.78). The increasing risks of current HD with increasing risk scores were 7.4% for a score of 1, 13.8 % for a score of 2, 19.8% for a score of 3, and 32.8% for a score of 4. Conclusion: One-third of the older adults in this study had current or impending HD. We identified risk factors for HD and created a risk score for HD in one group of community-dwelling older adults. Older adults with risk scores of 1-4 were at 7.4%-32.8% risk for current HD. The clinical utility of this risk score requires further study and external validation.