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Topic

How common is sarcopenia?

The short answer

It depends heavily on how sarcopenia is defined. A global meta-analysis found sarcopenia prevalence between 10% and 27% across the studies it pooled, and severe sarcopenia between 2% and 9%, with the figure moving with the classification and cut-off used. There is no single universal number, and no single agreed diagnostic criterion yet.

Key numbers

10% and 27%

Sarcopenia prevalence across classifications and cut-offs

2% to 9%

Severe sarcopenia prevalence

8% to 36%

Prevalence range in people younger than 60

What the pooled studies show

Petermann-Rocha and colleagues (2022) pooled prevalence studies from around the world. Using different classifications and cut-off points, sarcopenia prevalence varied between 10% and 27% in the studies included for meta-analysis, and severe sarcopenia ranged from 2% to 9%.

By age, the reported range was 8% to 36% in people younger than 60 and 10% to 27% in people aged 60 or older.

Why the estimates vary so much

Sarcopenia means the loss of muscle mass and strength, but there is still no single diagnostic criterion for it. The meta-analysis grouped studies by the classification used, the cut-off points and the instrument used to measure muscle mass, and prevalence moved considerably with each choice. The authors also report a high level of heterogeneity between studies, driven by the diagnostic criteria and the population studied.

The choice of framework could even reverse the sex difference. Using EWGSOP2, men had a higher prevalence than women (11% versus 2%). Using the International Working Group on Sarcopenia, women had a higher prevalence than men (17% versus 12%). By region, the highest prevalence was in Oceania under the original European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People classification, and the lowest in Europe under EWGSOP2.

What these figures are not

These are ranges across groups of people measured in different ways. They are not diagnostic criteria, and they are not anyone's personal likelihood of having sarcopenia. The Systematic assessment does not diagnose sarcopenia, and a Systematic score is not a sarcopenia estimate.

The evidence

Each cited source is labeled according to how it supports the particular claim on this page. Direct test evidence, underlying-capacity findings and population reference values are distinguished from Systematic-defined protocols and standards. Historical development notes are retained internally rather than presented as public evidence. A study of an underlying capacity is never presented as validation of the Systematic test itself.

  • Normative/reference evidence New source

    Petermann-Rocha et al. (2022). Global prevalence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle.

    What it found. Sarcopenia prevalence varied between 10% and 27% and severe sarcopenia between 2% and 9%, with estimates changing by classification, cut-off, population and how muscle mass was measured.

    What it does not show. It does not give one universal prevalence, a diagnostic cut-off for an individual, or anyone's likelihood of sarcopenia from a Systematic score.

    PubMed 34816624

The Systematic Healthspan Assessment is a physical baseline. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not estimate a biological age, a disease risk or a lifespan.