[Association between possible sarcopenia and risk for frailty in middle-aged and elderly adults in China: a cohort study].

Objective

To assess the association between possible sarcopenia and the risk for frailty in middle-aged and elderly adults in China.

Methods

A prospective cohort study design was used in this study. Data were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study during 2011-2018 and the baseline data in 2011, the follow up was conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2018, respectively. Frailty index was used to evaluate frailty status, and grip strength and repetitive sitting-up time were measured to detect possible sarcopenia. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the association between possible sarcopenia and the risk for frailty in middle-aged and older adults.

Results

In a 44 884 person-years follow-up, a total of 586 cases with frailty were recorded, and the incidence density of frailty was 13.06 per 1 000 person-year. The risk for frailty was also higher in those who were aged 60 years and above (HR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.71-2.45), had a primary school education level or below (HR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.29-1.85), had waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5 (HR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.11-1.75) and had depression (HR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.28-1.81). Drinking was associated with reduced risk for frailty (HR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.62-0.94). The risk for frailty increased (HR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.47-2.05) in those who might has possible sarcopenia.

Conclusions

In middle-aged and elderly adults, those with possible sarcopenia, lower education level, central obesity and depression might be at high risk for frailty, and early interventions for high-risk population can be taken to slow the progression of frailty.