Abstract:
Introduction: Sarcopenia is a common health issue among older individuals, characterized by a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder that leads to a consistent decline in muscle strength and functional capacity. It is increases the likelihood of adverse health outcomes, including falls, fractures, disability, poor quality of life, and contributes to morbidity. Studies conducted in various countries have reported that sarcopenia was prevalent among older people. However, there is a lack of studies done about sarcopenia in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia among older adults living in Bahir Dar City, Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from July to August, 2024. A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit a total of 636 study participants aged 60 years and older. The SARC-F scale was used to assess sarcopenia. The data was collected through the Kobo toolbox using face-to-face interviews and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. First, bivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to check potential risk factors for sarcopenia and variables having a p < 0.25 were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The findings of the final model were interpreted using variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 at a 95% CI and adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Results: Among the 605 participants enrolled, the overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 29.9% (95% CI: 26.3-33.7). Our present study determined that age 70 years and older (AOR = 2.02, CI 1.17–3.49), monthly income ≤ 1500 ETB (AOR = 4.11, CI 2.45–6.91), depression symptoms (AOR = 2.93, CI 1.85–4.64), comorbidities (AOR = 4.68, CI 2.80–7.82), under nutrition (AOR = 2.43, CI 1.56–3.79) and physical inactivity (AOR = 2.35, CI 1.13–4.87) were significantly associated with sarcopenia. Conclusion and recommendation: This community-based study among older adults found that nearly one-third of the participants had sarcopenia. Age 70 years and older, monthly income ≤1500 ETB, depression symptoms, comorbidities, under nutrition, and being physically inactive were factors associated with sarcopenia. Therefore, this study recommended that all concerned bodies focus on addressing symptoms of depression, under nutrition, physical inactivity, and the prevention and management of comorbidities in the older population.
