Title : Research progress of screening tools for sarcopenic obesity in community-based elderly people
Abstract:
Sarcopenic obesity(SO) is a clinical functional disease characterized by the coexistence of obesity and sarcopenia. With the deepening of aging, the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in the elderly population continues to increase, and the global prevalence of SO in the elderly is about 11%. Compared with sarcopenia or simple obesity, SO has a higher risk of adverse outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, fractures, arthritis, metabolic disorders, frailty, and death, so early identification is crucial. As the first line of health screening for the elderly, the community plays an important role in the early identification of SO. In 2022, the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) jointly released the "Definition and Diagnostic Criteria for Sarcopenic Obesity" consensus, covering screening, diagnosis, and staging methods. The consensus points out that SO screening is mainly based on BMI or waist circumference thresholds of different races and alternative indicators of sarcopenia (clinical symptoms, clinical suspicion, screening questionnaires such as SARC-F). When the screening results indicate that an individual is at dual risk of obesity and sarcopenia, the next step of diagnosis is performed. Currently, many researchers have also conducted relevant research on comprehensive SO screening methods, such as neck circumference, weight-adjusted waist circumference index, phase angle, etc. This study reviews SO screening tools, compares and analyzes their accuracy and application, explores their limiting factors in actual operation, and proposes possible improvement directions, providing a reference for the selection of SO screening tools for the elderly in the community and related research.
