More than 19 million seniors in Europe may currently be affected by sarcopenia. By 2045, its prevalence may rise by 63.8%.

Researchers from the University of Liège, Belgium, presented the study recently at the World Congress of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Using the Eurostat online database, the researchers retrieved age and gender-specific population projections from 2016 to 2045 for 28 European countries. The age and gender-specific prevalence of sarcopenia was assessed from a study that precisely compared prevalence estimates according to the different diagnostic cutoffs of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) proposed definition, explains a media release from the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

The prevalence estimates were added for adults above 65 years of age. The estimates of sarcopenia prevalence were then applied to population projections until 2045.

Per the release, the results showed that, using the definition providing the lowest prevalence estimates, the number of individuals with sarcopenia in Europe in 2016 is 10,869,527. This number will rise 72.4% to 18,735,173 in 2045. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia in the elderly will rise from 11.1% in 2016 to 12.9% in 2045. Women currently account for 44.2% of prevalent cases.

On the other hand, using the definition providing the highest prevalence estimates, the number of individuals with sarcopenia in Europe is 19,740,527 in 2016, rising to 32,338,990 in 2045 (a 63.8% increase). The overall prevalence of sarcopenia in the elderly will rise from 20.2% in 2016 to 22.3% in 2045. Women currently account for 66.4% of prevalent cases.

“Regardless of which diagnostic cutoff is used to define sarcopenia, the prevalence of this condition is expected to rise substantially in Europe. It is therefore essential that we implement effective prevention and disease management strategies,” states presenting author Dr Olivier Ethgen, in the release.

[Source(s): International Osteoporosis Foundation, Science Daily]