Epidemiology

Sarcopenia is typically a condition of older people. One US study found sarcopenia to be common in adults over 65 years of age and the prevalence to increase with age.[4] The prevalence of sarcopenia in the cohort studied was 22.6% in women and 26.8% in men. In a subgroup analysis of women and men aged 80 years or older, the prevalence was 31.0% and 52.9%, respectively.[4] Another study found that the prevalence of sarcopenia increased from 4% of men and 3% of women aged 70-75 years to 16% of men and 13% of women aged 85 years and older in a study of 694 men and 1006 women aged over 55 years.[5]

The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia reported the prevalence of sarcopenia based on a review of Asian studies to be 5.5% to 25.7%, with a range of 5.1% to 21.0% in men versus 4.1% to 16.3% in women.[6]

In Europe, the prevalence of sarcopenia in older people is predicted to increase from 11% as of 2016 to an estimated 13% by 2045.[7]

International studies, using data up to 2021, reported a global prevalence of 10% to 27% in people over age 60 years.[8]

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