Association of sarcopenia and physical activity with functional outcome in older Asian patients hospitalized for rehabilitation

Background Previous studies reported that sarcopenia and physical inactivity affected clinical outcome in older adults; however, the association with functional outcome has not been studied in a rehabilitation setting. Aim This study aimed to assess the association of sarcopenia and physical activity with the functional outcome in older hospitalized rehabilitation patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in older patients consecutively admitted to convalescent rehabilitation wards. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, and physical activity time (light-intensity physical activity, LIPA; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA) was measured using an activity monitor with a triaxial accelerometer. The association of sarcopenia and physical activity with functional outcome, measured by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor function, was determined using multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, primary disease diagnosis, length of acute hospital stay, Charlson comorbidity index, body mass index, and mini-nutritional assessment-short form score. Results Out of 211 rehabilitation older inpatients [median (interquartile range) age 78 (11) years, 150 women (71%)], 104 patients (49%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia had significantly lower LIPA (p < 0.001) and MVPA (p = 0.002) than those without sarcopenia. In multiple regression analysis, LIPA (beta = 0.39, p < 0.001) and MVPA (beta = 0.12, p = 0.02) were associated with FIM-motor function even after they were adjusted for confounding factors, including sarcopenia. Conclusions In rehabilitation older inpatients, sarcopenia and physical activity were independently associated with functional outcome, and physical activity was lower in sarcopenia patients than in those without sarcopenia.

Automated summary

Sarcopenia and physical activity were found to be independently associated with functional outcome in rehabilitation older inpatients, with lower levels of physical activity observed in sarcopenia patients compared to those without sarcopenia.