In a recent study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, a compelling connection between anorexia, assessed through a simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire (SNAQ), and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults attending outpatient rehabilitation sessions has been studied. The implications of this relationship may prove crucial for the better health and recovery of older individuals suffering from sarcopenia.
The look into the Cross-Sectional Study
The research conducted by Ishimoto Taisei and colleagues from the Department of Rehabilitation, Akahige Clinic, Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan, aimed to elucidate the potential link between the loss of appetite and the prevalence of sarcopenia, a muscle-wasting condition common in older adults. This association had been previously reported but remained unclear within the subset of older adults engaged in outpatient rehabilitation.
Methodology and Participant Details
The study took a cross-sectional approach, investigating 120 older adults, with a marked female majority of 72.5%. These participants were involved in outpatient rehabilitation, ranging from once to thrice weekly. The main variable under investigation was sarcopenia, defined according to the criteria set out by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019.
Measurement Tools
To measure anorexia, the study employed the SNAQ, which provides a scoring range from 4 to 20, with a score of 13 or lower indicating anorexia. Body Mass Index (BMI), food intake levels, anorexia, and a propensity score – inclusive of age, sex, number of medications, and the updated Charlson comorbidity index – served as independent variables in the forced-entry logistic regression analysis.
Key Findings:
The study revealed a sarcopenia prevalence of 65.8% (79 out of 120 subjects), with 23.3% (28 subjects) presenting with anorexia. Upon analysis, BMI (odds ratio: 0.71 [95% CI: 0.61-0.84]) and anorexia (odds ratio: 5.35 [95% CI: 1.24-23.2]) emerged as significant variables.
Significance and Conclusion
The findings point to a significant association between anorexia, as determined by the SNAQ, and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults undergoing outpatient rehabilitation. This highlights the importance of recognizing and assessing anorexia when examining sarcopenia in this demographic, guiding healthcare professionals towards more comprehensive assessments and potentially more effective interventions.
The study, “Association between anorexia as assessed by simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults using outpatient rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study,” has been an essential step in understanding the interplay between two conditions that significantly affect the aging population. The use of the SNAQ as a tool in outpatient settings offers a practical and easily implemented method to identify individuals at risk and guide interventions accordingly.
The publication details for the article are as follows: Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2024 Feb; 59: 176–180. Published online 2024 Jan 16. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.12.010. The authors have declared that there are no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.
Copyright © 2023 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
References
1. Ishimoto T, Fujimoto T, Matsudaira N, Yamamoto N, Hayashi H, Hisamatsu K, Toyota Y, Akazawa N. (2024). Association between anorexia as assessed by simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults using outpatient rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr ESPEN, 59, 176-180. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.12.010.
2. Fielding RA., Vellas B., Evans WJ., et al. (2011). Sarcopenia: An undiagnosed condition in older adults. Current consensus definition: Prevalence, etiology, and consequences. International Working Group on Sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 12(4), 249-256.
3. Dent E., Morley JE., Cruz-Jentoft AJ., et al. (2019). International clinical practice guidelines for sarcopenia (ICFSR): Screening, diagnosis, and management. J Nutr Health Aging, 23(9), 830-838.
4. Chen LK., Woo J., Assantachai P., et al. (2020). Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 21(3), 300-307.e2.
5. Wysokinski A., Sobów T., Kłoszewska I., Kostka T. (2015). Mechanisms of the anorexia of aging—a review. Age (Dordr), 37(4), 9821.
Keywords
1. Anorexia and Sarcopenia
2. Older Adults Rehabilitation
3. Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire
4. Community-Dwelling Sarcopenia
5. Outpatient Muscle Wasting
By using these keywords, the content is optimized to target individuals and healthcare professionals interested in the correlation between nutritional health, particularly anorexia, and sarcopenia as it applies to older adults in outpatient rehabilitation settings.