Sarcopenia in Egypt: epidemiology of sarcopenia risk among older adults presenting with fragility fractures—an initiative by the Egyptian Academy of Bone Health

Abstract

Purpose (1) This was a multi-center, cross-sectional, observational study. Both old men and postmenopausal women over 50 years old who were admitted with an osteoporotic fracture (whether hip fracture or major osteoporosis) were consecutively recruited for this work and managed under the Fracture Liaison Service. All the patients were assessed for their sarcopenia risk (SARC-F), fracture risk (FRAX), and fall risk (FRAS) as well as functional disability (HAQ). The aim was to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia risk among older adult Egyptians presenting with fragility fractures. (2) To identify the relation between sarcopenia risk with the risk of falling as well as sustaining a fragility fracture. Results Two hundred and thirty-six patients (69 males, 167 females) were included in this work. The mean age was 70.1 (SD = 9.2) years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 69.7%. The sarcopenia risk score was positively correlated with the FRAX score (p = 0.01). The prevalence of high sarcopenia risk was 78% of the patients presenting with a high 10-year probability of major osteoporosis fracture as well as a 10-year probability of hip fracture. The sarcopenia risk score was positively correlated with the increased fall risk (p = 0.01) as scored by the FRAS scale. There was a significant relation (p < 0.05) between the functional disability score and the SARC-F score. This was persistent when assessed in relation to fall risk. Conclusion This study highlighted the high sarcopenia risk in the patients presenting with fragility fractures. Identification of patients at increased risk of sarcopenia should be a component of the standard practice.