Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

Abstract Background and objectives The association between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity risk remains poorly investigating. We aimed to evaluate the associations between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity prevalence and...

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Main Authors: Kaixin Zhang, Xiaowei Zheng, Tao Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Archives of Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01538-y
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author Kaixin Zhang
Xiaowei Zheng
Tao Ma
author_facet Kaixin Zhang
Xiaowei Zheng
Tao Ma
author_sort Kaixin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and objectives The association between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity risk remains poorly investigating. We aimed to evaluate the associations between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity prevalence and incidence among middle-aged and older Chinese population. Methods A total of 13,036 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 were included in cross-sectional analyses. 5771 participants were including in longitudinal analyses and were followed up in 2018. Sarcopenia status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) criteria. Obesity was defined according to body mass index. Results In cross-sectional analyses, possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were significantly associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence. During the 7 years of follow-up, 2295(39.77%) participants with new-onset multimorbidity were identified. Compared with participants without sarcopenia or obesity, a greater increase in the risk of multimorbidity incidence was found among participants with obesity only (OR = 1.39, 1.21–1.59), sarcopenia only (OR = 1.45, 1.35–1.58) and sarcopenic obesity (OR = 2.42, 2.03–2.89). Both pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were positively related to an increased number of morbidities. Conclusion Pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence and incidence. Our findings provide important implications for screening and preventing possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and obesity, which may be beneficial in reducing chronic disease burden.
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spelling doaj-art-5856e6ae2b3042679f4deb543e3e183d2025-08-20T03:40:46ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582025-03-0183111010.1186/s13690-025-01538-yAssociation of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal studyKaixin Zhang0Xiaowei Zheng1Tao Ma2Department of Clinical Research Center, Wuxi No.2 People’s Hospital (Jiangnan University Medical Center), Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityPublic Health Research Center, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Wuxi No.2 People’s Hospital (Jiangnan University Medical Center), Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityAbstract Background and objectives The association between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity risk remains poorly investigating. We aimed to evaluate the associations between possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on multimorbidity prevalence and incidence among middle-aged and older Chinese population. Methods A total of 13,036 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 were included in cross-sectional analyses. 5771 participants were including in longitudinal analyses and were followed up in 2018. Sarcopenia status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) criteria. Obesity was defined according to body mass index. Results In cross-sectional analyses, possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were significantly associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence. During the 7 years of follow-up, 2295(39.77%) participants with new-onset multimorbidity were identified. Compared with participants without sarcopenia or obesity, a greater increase in the risk of multimorbidity incidence was found among participants with obesity only (OR = 1.39, 1.21–1.59), sarcopenia only (OR = 1.45, 1.35–1.58) and sarcopenic obesity (OR = 2.42, 2.03–2.89). Both pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were positively related to an increased number of morbidities. Conclusion Pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence and incidence. Our findings provide important implications for screening and preventing possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and obesity, which may be beneficial in reducing chronic disease burden.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01538-ySarcopeniaPossible sarcopeniaSarcopenic obesityMultimorbidity
spellingShingle Kaixin Zhang
Xiaowei Zheng
Tao Ma
Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
Archives of Public Health
Sarcopenia
Possible sarcopenia
Sarcopenic obesity
Multimorbidity
title Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
title_full Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
title_fullStr Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
title_short Association of possible Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
title_sort association of possible sarcopenia sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with multimorbidity among middle aged and older adults findings from the china health and retirement longitudinal study
topic Sarcopenia
Possible sarcopenia
Sarcopenic obesity
Multimorbidity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01538-y
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