The Journal of frailty & aging 

About: The Journal of frailty & aging is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Sarcopenia. It has an ISSN identifier of 2260-1341. Over the lifetime, 615 publications have been published receiving 5912 citations. The journal is also known as: JFA & The journal of Frailty & Aging.

Health outcomes of sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review to assess the short-, middle- and long-term consequences of sarcopenia. Methods Prospective studies assessing the consequences of sarcopenia were searched across different electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EBM Reviews ACP Journal Club, EBM Reviews DARE and AMED). Only studies that used the definition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People to diagnose sarcopenia were included. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. For outcomes reported by three or more studies, a meta-analysis was performed. The study results are expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI. Results Of the 772 references identified through the database search, 17 were included in this systematic review. The number of participants in the included studies ranged from 99 to 6658, and the duration of follow-up varied from 3 months to 9.8 years. Eleven out of 12 studies assessed the impact of sarcopenia on mortality. The results showed a higher rate of mortality among sarcopenic subjects (pooled OR of 3.596 (95% CI 2.96–4.37)). The effect was higher in people aged 79 years or older compared with younger subjects (p = 0.02). Sarcopenia is also associated with functional decline (pooled OR of 6 studies 3.03 (95% CI 1.80–5.12)), a higher rate of falls (2/2 studies found a significant association) and a higher incidence of hospitalizations (1/1 study). The impact of sarcopenia on the incidence of fractures and the length of hospital stay was less clear (only 1/2 studies showed an association for both outcomes). Conclusion Sarcopenia is associated with several harmful outcomes, making this geriatric syndrome a real public health burden.

Presbyphagia and Sarcopenic Dysphagia: Association between Aging, Sarcopenia, and Deglutition Disorders.

Abstract: Presbyphagia refers to age-related changes in the swallowing mechanism in the elderly associated with a frailty in swallowing. Presbyphagia is different from dysphagia. Sarcopenic dysphagia is difficulty swallowing due to sarcopenia of generalized skeletal muscles and swallowing muscles. Age-related loss of swallowing muscle mass becomes evident in the geniohyoid muscle and tongue. Elderly subjects with both sarcopenia and dysphagia may have not only disease-related dysphagia but also sarcopenic dysphagia. In cases of aspiration pneumonia, deterioration in activity-, disease-, and nutrition-related sarcopenia of generalized skeletal muscles and swallowing muscles may develop into sarcopenic dysphagia. Assessment of sarcopenic dysphagia includes evaluation of both dysphagia and sarcopenia. The 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and a water test combined with pulse oximetry are useful for dysphagia screening. Assessment of the multi-factorial causes of sarcopenia including nutritional review is important, because rehabilitation of sarcopenic dysphagia differs depending on its etiology. Consensus diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic dysphagia were proposed at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation for sarcopenic dysphagia includes treatment of both dysphagia and sarcopenia. The core components of dysphagia rehabilitation are oral health care, rehabilitative techniques, and food modification. The causes of adult malnutrition may also contribute to the etiology of secondary sarcopenia and sarcopenic dysphagia. Therefore, nutrition management is indispensable for sarcopenic dysphagia rehabilitation. In cases of sarcopenia with numerous complicating causes, treatment should include pharmaceutical therapies for age-related sarcopenia and comorbid chronic diseases, resistance training, early ambulation, nutrition management, protein and amino acid supplementation, and non-smoking.

Current nutritional recommendations and novel dietary strategies to manage sarcopenia.

Abstract: Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that occurs with aging, is associated with increased risk for several adverse health outcomes, including frailty, disability, falls, loss of independent living, and mortality. At present, no pharmacological treatment exists that is able to definitely halt the progression of sarcopenia. Likewise, no pharmacological remedies are yet available to prevent the onset of age-related muscle wasting. In this scenario, the combination of nutritional interventions and physical exercise appears to be the most effective strategy presently available for the management of sarcopenia. The purposes of this review are to summarize the current knowledge on the role of nutrition as a countermeasure for sarcopenia, illustrate the mechanisms of action of relevant dietary agents on the aging muscle, and introduce novel nutritional strategies that may help preserve muscle mass and function into old age. Issues related to the identification of the optimal timing of nutritional interventions in the context of primary and secondary prevention are also discussed. Finally, the prospect of elaborating personalized dietary and physical exercise recommendations through the implementation of integrated, high-throughput analytic approaches is illustrated.

Economic Impact of Hospitalizations in US Adults with Sarcopenia

Abstract: Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass with corresponding decline in strength and/or physical function. The economic burden of sarcopenia-associated disability is considerable in the US. To estimate the cost of hospitalizations in US adults with sarcopenia categorized by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. A retrospective, prevalence based, economic burden study, consisting of 4011 adults aged ≥40 years with and without sarcopenia. Data on prevalence of low lean mass, functional limitations, and hospitalizations were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004); cost of hospitalizations was obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project — National Inpatient Sample (2014), and population estimates were obtained from the US Census (2014). Probability and cost of hospitalizations were estimated by multiple logistic regression and negative binomial regression models, respectively. The total estimated cost of hospitalizations in individuals with sarcopenia was USD $40.4 billion with an average per person cost of USD $260. Within this category, average per person cost was highest for Hispanic women (USD $548) and lowest for Non-Hispanic Black women (USD $25); average per person cost was higher for older adults (≥65 years) (USD $375) than younger adults (40–64 years) (USD $204) with sarcopenia. The total cost of hospitalizations in individuals with sarcopenia (≥65 years) was USD $19.12 billion. Individuals with sarcopenia had greater odds of hospitalization (OR, 1.95; p<.001) compared to those without and had an annual marginal increase in cost of USD $2315.7 per person compared to individuals without sarcopenia. Sarcopenia places considerable economic burden on the US healthcare system. The ethnic disparity and economic burden associated with sarcopenia warrant further investigation.

Implications of ICD-10 for Sarcopenia Clinical Practice and Clinical Trials: Report by the International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Task Force.

Abstract: Establishment of an ICD-10-CM code for sarcopenia in 2016 was an important step towards reaching international consensus on the need for a nosological framework of age-related skeletal muscle decline. The International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Task Force met in April 2017 to discuss the meaning, significance, and barriers to the implementation of the new code as well as strategies to accelerate development of new therapies. Analyses by the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium are underway to develop quantitative definitions of sarcopenia. A consensus conference is planned to evaluate this analysis. The Task Force also discussed lessons learned from sarcopenia trials that could be applied to future trials, as well as lessons from the osteoporosis field, a clinical condition with many constructs similar to sarcopenia and for which ad hoc treatments have been developed and approved by regulatory agencies.