Performance of the EWGSOP2 Cut-Points of Low Grip Strength for Identifying Sarcopenia and Frailty Phenotype: A Cross-Sectional Study in Older Inpatients

Anna K. Stuck, Nina C. Mäder, Dominic Bertschi, Andreas Limacher and Reto W. Kressig
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Anna K. Stuck: Department of Geriatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Nina C. Mäder: Medical Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Dominic Bertschi: Department of Geriatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Andreas Limacher: CTU Bern, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Reto W. Kressig: University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Background: The European Working Group on Sarcopenia has recently proposed revised cut-off values for the definition of low grip strength (EWGSOP2). We therefore compared performance of the EWGSOP2 cut-off definition of low grip strength with other internationally used cut-off points in a sample of older patients. Methods: We analyzed geriatric assessment data in a cross-sectional sample of 98 older patients admitted to a post-acute care hospital. First, we compared prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty phenotype in our sample using low grip strength cut-points from the EWGSOP2 and seven other internationally used consensus statements. Second, we calculated correlations between low grip strength and two independent surrogate outcomes (i.e., gait speed, and the clinical frailty scale) for the EWGSOP2 and the other seven cut-point definitions. Results: Prevalence of sarcopenia based on the EWGSOP2 grip strength cut-off values was significantly lower (10.2%) than five of the seven other cut-point definitions (e.g., 19.4% based on Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) criteria). Similarly, frailty phenotype prevalence was significantly lower based on EWGSOP2 cut-points (57.1%) as compared to SDOC (70.4%). The correlation coefficient of gait speed with low grip strength based on EWGSOP2 cut-points was lower (0.145) as compared to other criteria (e.g., SDOC 0.240). Conclusions: Sarcopenia and frailty phenotype were identified considerably less using the EWGSOP2 cut-points for low grip strength, potentially underestimating prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty phenotype in post-acute hospital patients.

Keywords: post-acute care; rehabilitation; geriatric; muscle strength; gait speed; fried phenotype; clinical frailty scale; cut-off value (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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