Possible sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity phenotypes and their association with diabetes: Evidence from LASI wave-1 (2017-18)

Aims: To assess the prevalence of possible sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity phenotypes and investigate their association with self-reported diabetes among community-dwelling individuals aged 45 or above.

Methods: Utilizing data from 62,899 individuals in LASI wave-1 (2017-18), the assessment of possible sarcopenia was done on two critical parameters: muscle (handgrip) strength and physical performance (gait speed), following the 2019 guidelines from the Asian working group on sarcopenia (AWGS). BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR defined sarcopenic obesity phenotypes. Binary logistic regression analysis explored the association of possible sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity phenotypes with self-reported diabetes.

Results: The prevalence of possible sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity defined by BMI was found to be 44.4 % and 10.6 %, respectively. Individuals with possible sarcopenia exhibited a 1.18 times higher likelihood of developing self-reported diabetes (p < 0.001), while those with sarcopenic obesity by BMI had significantly elevated odds (1.94, 95 % CI 1.81-2, p < 0.001) for self-reported diabetes.

Conclusions: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity phenotypes may increase the risk of developing diabetes as we age. Therefore, it is imperative to formulate targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat sarcopenia and diabetes among the aging population.