Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care

Background Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we...

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Main Authors: Ryo Sato, Yohei Sawaya, Tamaki Hirose, Takahiro Shiba, Lu Yin, Shuntaro Tsuji, Masahiro Ishizaka, Tomohiko Urano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korea Geriatrics Society 2025-03-01
Series:Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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Online Access:http://www.e-agmr.org/upload/pdf/agmr-24-0126.pdf
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author Ryo Sato
Yohei Sawaya
Tamaki Hirose
Takahiro Shiba
Lu Yin
Shuntaro Tsuji
Masahiro Ishizaka
Tomohiko Urano
author_facet Ryo Sato
Yohei Sawaya
Tamaki Hirose
Takahiro Shiba
Lu Yin
Shuntaro Tsuji
Masahiro Ishizaka
Tomohiko Urano
author_sort Ryo Sato
collection DOAJ
description Background Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the usefulness of calf muscle circumference measurement in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 63 older adults (40 male and 23 female; mean age, 79.7±6.5 years) using day-care rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was defined according to the guidelines of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). The association between sarcopenia and calf muscle circumference was determined using multiple regression analysis, and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference was determined using the kappa coefficient. Results Overall, 36.5% (30.4% female and 40.0% male) of the participants had sarcopenia. Calf muscle circumference was independently associated with sarcopenia. The best cutoff points for calf muscle circumference to identify older adults at risk of low skeletal muscle mass were 28.7 cm and 31.1 cm for female and male participants, respectively. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient between sarcopenia diagnosed using calf muscle circumference and that diagnosed using the AWGS 2019 criteria was 0.80. Conclusions Calf muscle circumference is independently and significantly associated with sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care. Calf muscle circumference is a surrogate for skeletal muscle mass and thus may be used to diagnose sarcopenia.
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spelling doaj-art-27e41efb7e4842aa8e3576952d5b872a2025-08-20T03:04:30ZengKorea Geriatrics SocietyAnnals of Geriatric Medicine and Research2508-47982508-49092025-03-01291586510.4235/agmr.24.01261166Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term CareRyo Sato0Yohei Sawaya1Tamaki Hirose2Takahiro Shiba3Lu Yin4Shuntaro Tsuji5Masahiro Ishizaka6Tomohiko Urano7 Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, Japan Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, Japan Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, Japan Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, Japan Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan Nishinasuno General Home Care Center, Department of Day Rehabilitation, Care Facility for the Elderly “Maronie-en,” Tochigi, JapanBackground Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the usefulness of calf muscle circumference measurement in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 63 older adults (40 male and 23 female; mean age, 79.7±6.5 years) using day-care rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was defined according to the guidelines of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). The association between sarcopenia and calf muscle circumference was determined using multiple regression analysis, and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference was determined using the kappa coefficient. Results Overall, 36.5% (30.4% female and 40.0% male) of the participants had sarcopenia. Calf muscle circumference was independently associated with sarcopenia. The best cutoff points for calf muscle circumference to identify older adults at risk of low skeletal muscle mass were 28.7 cm and 31.1 cm for female and male participants, respectively. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient between sarcopenia diagnosed using calf muscle circumference and that diagnosed using the AWGS 2019 criteria was 0.80. Conclusions Calf muscle circumference is independently and significantly associated with sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care. Calf muscle circumference is a surrogate for skeletal muscle mass and thus may be used to diagnose sarcopenia.http://www.e-agmr.org/upload/pdf/agmr-24-0126.pdfsarcopeniamuscleagedskeletalcross-sectional studies
spellingShingle Ryo Sato
Yohei Sawaya
Tamaki Hirose
Takahiro Shiba
Lu Yin
Shuntaro Tsuji
Masahiro Ishizaka
Tomohiko Urano
Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
sarcopenia
muscle
aged
skeletal
cross-sectional studies
title Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
title_full Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
title_fullStr Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
title_full_unstemmed Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
title_short Measurement of the Calf Muscle Circumference is Useful for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
title_sort measurement of the calf muscle circumference is useful for diagnosing sarcopenia in older adults requiring long term care
topic sarcopenia
muscle
aged
skeletal
cross-sectional studies
url http://www.e-agmr.org/upload/pdf/agmr-24-0126.pdf
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