Publication:

Association of bone mineral density with sarcopenia indicators in the elderly population

Background Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are age-related conditions that contribute to frailty, falls, and disability. The coexistence of osteopenia and sarcopenia, known as osteosarcopenia, is a growing concern.  This study investigated the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and sarcopenia in elderly patients with osteoporosis.

Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from January 2020 to January 2021. A total of 100 elderly patients (≥60 years) with osteoporosis were enrolled. BMD was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the EWGSOP2 criteria, hand grip strength, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI), and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results The mean age was 66±7 years, and 88% of the patients were female. Sarcopenia was present in 61% of patients and was more prevalent in patients with severe osteoporosis (72.4%). The mean lumbar spine and femoral neck T-scores were -3.29±1.04 and -3.09±1.56, respectively. The functional parameters included grip strength of 17.76±5.94 kg (right hand), walking speed of 0.65±0.12 m/s, and TUG of 13.5±3.2 seconds. Significant positive correlations were observed between ASMMI and BMD at the lumbar spine (r=0.264) and femoral neck (r=0.356) (p=0.008).

Conclusions Reduced BMD was significantly associated with impaired sarcopenia indicators in elderly patients. Early identification and management of osteoporosis and sarcopenia are essential for preventing frailty and improving patient outcomes.