Cut-off points to determine muscle mass reduction by electrical bioimpedance analysis for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sarcopenia is considered a muscular disease known in older adults, characterized by the reduction of muscle mass and physical performance. In 2010, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People(EWGSOP) established criteria to define sarcopenia based on muscle mass, grip strength, and gait speed. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) has become popular for estimating body composition in various populations, particularly for assessing sarcopenia in geriatrics. Objective: To identify the cutoff points for Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) using BIA for the diagnosis of sarcopenia inmen and women aged over 60 years within the period between January 1, 2010, and July 19, 2020. Methodology: A literature search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, EBSCO, Scopus, OVID, and WOS. Studies in English and Spanish reporting cutoff points for skeletal muscle mass evaluated byBIA for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in adults > 60 years ofboth sexes were included. Results: Only 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. The cutoff points for the decrease in muscle mass varied in each study from 7 kg/m2 to ≤ 10.75 kg/m2 inmen and from <5.7 kg/m2 to <7.4 kg/m2 in women, adjusted for height. Conclusion: This systematic review enabled the recognition of distinct cutoff points for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in older adults world wide. Further more, it demonstrated that the cut off points for SMI vary from country to country. As a result, further studies encompassing diverse regions within each country are necessary to establish cutoff points that enhance the accurate diagnosis of sarcopenia in the elderly population (AU)