The Relationship between Sarcopenia and Injury Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 98,754 Older Adults

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and injury events (falls, fractures, hospitalization, disability, and death). This study systemically searched the literature from Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library and analyzed the collected literature using the random effects model to demonstrate the relationship between sarcopenia and injury events. This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and collected a total of 38 prospective studies, and the results showed that, when compared to robust individuals, the risk of injury events for older individuals with sarcopenia was significantly higher for fractures (HR = 9.66, CI: 5.07–18.38), hospital admissions (HR = 11.80, CI: 4.86–28.65), and death (HR = 9.57, CI: 3.17–28.94). In consideration of the negative impact of sarcopenia on the subsequent health of older adults, professional nursing personnel should assess older adults for sarcopenia as early as possible and propose relevant care policies to further reduce negative health impacts.