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Levels and Patterns of Sarcopenia among Older Filipinos

Mark Ryan Paguirigan, University of the Philippines Population Institute
Grace Cruz, University of the Philippines Population Institute
Maria Karlene Shawn I Cabaraban, Department of Sociology, University of Vienna
Christian Joy P. Cruz, University of the Philippines
Miguel Ramos, St. Luke's Geriatric Center
Yasuhiko Saito, Nihon University

This study aims to provide the first country estimate on the prevalence of sarcopenia, a geriatric syndrome that has recently gained momentum among scholars in Asia. The study aims to describe the levels and patterns of sarcopenia by age and sex among older people (OPs) in the Philippines using the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) baseline data and the cutoffs set by the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. We measured sarcopenia based on (1) the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and the levels of physical performance and (2) ASMI and handgrip or muscle strength. Results from these two measures yielded similar patterns in sex and age differentials - significantly more males and those in the oldest age cohort (80+) have severe sarcopenia.

Keywords: Health and morbidity, Older adults, Biodemography and genetics, Demographic and social surveys

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P16.