Role of Community Nurses in Sarcopenia Screening and Prevention for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a significant concern among community-dwelling older adults due to its age-related progressive nature, leading to an increased risk of falls and injuries, functional decline, and ultimately dependency. This article aims to enhance community nurses' understanding of primary sarcopenia, focusing on the age-related pathophysiology and modifiable behavioral risk factors. Furthermore, this article presents the role of community nurses in screening older adults with possible sarcopenia for referral to hospitals for further diagnosis and treatment. It also discusses the application of the Health Belief Model in assisting older adults to modify risky behaviors, with the goal of preventing sarcopenia in high-risk older adults with possible sarcopenia. This proactive approach seeks to delay age-related muscle deterioration, enabling older adults in the community to live independently, avoid burdening their families and caregivers, and maintain a good quality of life. Consequently, this approach contributes to the quality indicators of elderly care provided by community and home care nurses.
References
Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Sayer AA. Sarcopenia. Lancet 2019;393(10191):2636-46.
Institute of Geriatric Medicine, DMS, MOPH, Thailand. Geriatric syndromes. Is August; 2015. (In Thai)
Dos Santos L, Cyrino ES, Antunes M, Santos DA, Sardinha LB. Sarcopenia and physical independence in older adults: the independent and synergic role of muscle mass and muscle function. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2017;8(2):245-50.
Bhasin S, Travison TG, Manini TM, Patel S, Pencina KM, Fielding RA, et al. Sarcopenia definition: the position statements of the sarcopenia definition and outcomes consortium. J Am Geriatr Soc 2020;68(7):1410-8.
Yeung SS, Reijnierse EM, Pham VK, Trappenburg MC, Lim WK, Meskers CG, et al. Sarcopenia and its association with falls and fractures in older adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2019;10(3):485-500.
Zhang X, Huang P, Dou Q, Wang C, Zhang W, Yang Y, et al. Falls among older adults with sarcopenia dwelling in nursing home or community: a meta-analysis. Clin Nutr 2020;39(1):33-9.
Manrique-Espinoza B, Salinas-Rodríguez A, Rosas-Carrasco O, Gutiérrez-Robledo LM, Avila-Funes JA. Sarcopenia is associated with physical and mental components of health-related quality of life in older adults. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017;18(7):636-e1.
Kitamura A, Seino S, Abe T, Nofuji Y, Yokoyama Y, Amano H, et al. Sarcopenia: prevalence, associated factors, and the risk of mortality and disability in Japanese older adults. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2021;12(1):30-8.
Lawongsa K, Tepakorn J. Sarcopenia prevalence and risk factors among older adults in Bangkok, Thailand: a cross-sectional study. Cureus 2024;16(6):e63483.
Whaikid, Phatcharaphon, and Noppawan Piaseu. The prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in Thai older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs 2024;11(1): 31-45.
Vanitcharoenkul E, Unnanuntana A, Chotiyarnwong P, Laohaprasitiporn P, Adulkasem N, Asavamongkolkul A, et al. Sarcopenia in Thai community-dwelling older adults: a national, cross-sectional, epidemiological study of prevalence and risk factors. BMC Public Health 2024;24(1):311.
Yuenyongchaiwat K, Akekawatchai C. Prevalence and incidence of sarcopenia and low physical activity among community-dwelling older Thai people: a preliminary prospective cohort study 2-year follow-up. PeerJ 2022;10:e13320.
Trevisan C, Vetrano DL, Calvani R, Picca A, Welmer AK. Twelve‐year sarcopenia trajectories in older adults: results from a population‐based study. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022;13(1):254-63.
Tanimoto Y, Watanabe M, Sun W, Tanimoto K, Shishikura K, Sugiura Y, et al. Association of sarcopenia with functional decline in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013;13(4):958-63.
Nishikawa H, Fukunishi S, Asai A, Yokohama K, Nishiguchi S, Higuchi K. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of primary sarcopenia. Int J Mol Med 2021;48(2):1-8.
Prajapati P, Kumar A, Chaudary R, Mangrulkar S, Arya M, Kushwaha S. A comprehensive review of essential aspects of molecular pathophysiological mechanisms with emerging interventions for sarcopenia in older people. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2024;17(1):e080323214478
Gao Q, Hu K, Yan C, Zhao B, Mei F, Chen F, Zhao L, Shang Y, Ma Y, Ma B. Associated factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr 2021;13(12):4291.
Tzeng PL, Lin CY, Lai TF, Huang WC, Pien E, Hsueh MC, Lin KP, Park JH, Liao Y. Daily lifestyle behaviors and risks of sarcopenia among older adults. Arch Pub Health 2020;78:1-8.
Bhat G, Ireland A, Shah N, Gondhalekar K, Mandlik R, Kajale N, Katapally T, Bhawra J, Damle R, Khadilkar A. Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia among urban and rural Indian adults in middle age: A cross-sectional study from Western India. PLOS Glob Public Health 2024;4(10):e0003553.
Sanguankittiphan P, Thinkhamrop K, Kelly PL. Prevalence and related factors of possible sarcopenia among Thai community-dwelling older adults. J Public Hlth Dev 2023;21(1):174-87.
Kuo YW, Chen CW, Zhang JY, Lee JD. Association of eating behavior, nutritional risk, and frailty with sarcopenia in Taiwanese rural community-dwelling elders: A cross-sectional study. Nutr 2022;14(16):3254.
Confortin SC, Ono LM, Barbosa AR, d’Orsi E. Sarcopenia and its association with changes in socioeconomic, behavioral, and health factors: the EpiFloripa Elderly Study. Cad Saúde Pública 2018;34:e00164917.
Mo Y, Zhou Y, Chan H, Evans C, Maddocks M. The association between sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023;23(1):877.
Beaudart C, Zaaria M, Pasleau F, Reginster JY, Bruyère O. Health outcomes of sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169548.
Trevisan C, Vetrano DL, Calvani R, Picca A, Welmer AK. Twelve-year sarcopenia trajectories in older adults: results from a population-based study. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022;13(1):254-63.
Cho MR, Lee S, Song SK. A review of sarcopenia pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and future direction. J Korean Med Sci 2022;37(18):e146
Chen LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, Auyeung TW, Chou MY, Iijima K, et al. Asian working group for sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020;21(3):300-7.
Akarapornkrailert P, Muangpaisan W, Boonpeng A, Daengdee D. Validation of the Thai version of SARC-F, MSRA-7, and MSRA-5 questionnaires compared to AWGS 2019 and sarcopenia risks in older patients at a medical outpatient clinic. Osteoporos Sarcopenia 2020;6(4):205-11.
Barbosa-Silva TG, Menezes AM, Bielemann RM, Malmstrom TK, Gonzalez MC. Enhancing SARC-F: Improving sarcopenia screening in the clinical practice. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2016;17(12):1136-41.
Srisim K, Amatachaya, S. Validity of the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test as compared with the Timed “Up & Go” Test in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury. J Med Tech Phy Ther 2014;26(2):150-7. (In Thai)
Chen LK, Liu LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, Auyeung TW, Bahyah KS, et al. Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2014;15(2):95-101.
Roush J, Heick JD, Hawk T, Eurek D, Wallis A, Kiflu D. Agreement in walking speed measured using four different outcome measures: 6-meter walk test, 10-meter walk test, 2-minute walk test, and 6-minute walk test. Internet J of Allied Health Sci Practi 2021;19(2):7.
Treacy D, Hassett L. The short physical performance battery. J Physiother 2018;64(1):61.
Alyafei A, Easton-Carr R. The health belief model of behavior change. InStatPearls [Internet] 2024 May 19. StatPearls Publishing.
Shi Y, Tang Y, Stanmore E, McGarrigle L, Todd C. Non-pharmacological interventions for community-dwelling older adults with possible sarcopenia or sarcopenia: a scoping review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023;112:105022
Chen LK, Arai H, Assantachai P, Akishita M, Chew ST, Dumlao LC, et al. Roles of nutrition in muscle health of community-dwelling older adults: evidence-based expert consensus from Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022;13(3):1653-72.
Zeng D, Ling XY, Fang ZL, Lu YF. Optimal exercise to improve physical ability and performance in older adults with sarcopenia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Geriatr Nurs 2023;52: 199-207.
Flor-Rufino C, Barrachina-Igual J, Pérez-Ros P, Pablos-Monzó A, Martínez-Arnau FM. Resistance training of peripheral muscles benefits respiratory parameters in older women with sarcopenia: randomized controlled trial. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023;104:104799.
Wu PY, Huang KS, Chen KM, Chou CP, Tu YK. Exercise, nutrition, and combined exercise and nutrition in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Maturitas 2021;145:38-48.
Kemmler W, Weineck M, Kohl M, von Stengel S, Giessing J, Fröhlich M, Schoene D. High intensity resistance exercise training to improve body composition and strength in older men with osteosarcopenia. Results of the randomized controlled franconian osteopenia and sarcopenia trial (FrOST). Front Sports Act Living 2020;2:4.
Watanabe Y, Tanimoto M, Oba N, Sanada K, Miyachi M, Ishii N. Effect of resistance training using bodyweight in the elderly: Comparison of resistance exercise movement between slow and normal speed movement. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015;15(12):1270-7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Thai Public Health Nurses Association
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความที่ตีพิมพ์และแผนภูมิรูปภาพถือเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารพยาบาลสาธารณสุข (Thai Public Health Nurses Association)
