Factors associated with muscle mass in community-dwelling older people in Singapore: Findings from the SHIELD study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 10; p. e0223222
• Main Authors: Tey, Siew Ling, Chew, Samuel Teong Huang, How, Choon How, Yalawar, Menaka, Baggs, Geraldine, Chow, Wai Leng, Cheong, Magdalin, Ong, Rebecca Hui San, Husain, Farah Safdar, Kwan, Shuyi Charmaine, Tan, Cynthia Yan Ling, Low, Yen Ling, Tan, Ngiap Chuan, Huynh, Dieu Thi Thu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 09.10.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aging; Analysis; Anthropometry; Bioelectric impedance; Bioelectricity; Biology and Life Sciences; Body composition; Bone density; Bone mass; Cohort Studies; Communities; Cross-sectional studies; Elderly; Exercise; Female; Females; Health aspects; Humans; Independent Living; Linear Models; Male; Males; Malnutrition; Medicine and Health Sciences; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscles; Nutritional status; Older people; Organ Size; People and Places; Physical sciences; Physiological aspects; Public health; Sarcopenia; Singapore; Skeletal muscle; Systematic review; Type 2 diabetes; Vitamin D; Singapore; Thailand; Asia; China; Japan; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223222

Aging is associated with low muscle mass and has been linked to adverse health outcomes. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were: (1) to describe anthropometry, body composition, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI; appendicular skeletal muscle mass/height2), and prevalence of low ASMI in older people with normal nutritional status (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score = 0); (2) to determine factors associated with ASMI, and odds ratios of having low ASMI. SHIELD is a study of community-dwelling older people aged 65 years and above in Singapore. ASMI was determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis and low ASMI was defined as <7.0 kg/m2 for males and <5.7 kg/m2 for females (Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, 2014). A total of 400 older people (183 males and 217 females) took part in this study. The overall prevalence of low ASMI was 20.6% (15.5% in males and 24.9% in females). Females had significantly lower ASMI than males (P < 0.0001), age was inversely associated with ASMI (P = 0.0024) while BMI and calf circumference were positively associated with ASMI (both P < 0.0001) in the total cohort. In addition, ASMI was positively associated with bone mass in both genders (both P < 0.0001). After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratios of having low ASMI with every 1 year and 10 years increase in age were 1.13 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.20) and 3.36 (95% CI: 1.82, 6.21) respectively. The high prevalence of low ASMI in community-dwelling older people with normal nutritional status highlights the need for early screening. There was a strong inverse association between age and ASMI while BMI, calf circumference and bone mass were positively associated with ASMI. These findings will give further weight to the importance and development of public health strategies in maintaining and improving muscle health in this population group.