Characterizing sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in patients aged 65 years and over, at risk of mobility disability: a multicenter observational trial (SARA-OBS)

• Published in: BMC geriatrics Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 590 - 12
• Main Authors: Fielding, Roger A., Rolland, Yves, Bruyere, Olivier, Desvarieux, Moise, Donini, Lorenzo M., Incalzi, Raffaele Antonelli, Muscaritoli, Maurizio, Tchalla, Achille, Bonnefoy, Marc, Rondanelli, Mariangela, Van Maanen, Rob, Mariani, Jean, Margalef, Carole, Del Signore, Susanna, Tourette, Cendrine, Dioh, Waly, Veillet, Stanislas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 04.08.2025; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Analysis; Biomarkers; Body composition; Body fat; Body mass index; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Dictionaries; Disability; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mobility; Mobility disability; Mobility Limitation; Mortality; Muscle strength; Obesity; Obesity - diagnosis; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - physiopathology; Observational studies; Older adults; Older people; Physical performance; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Prevention; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Risk Factors; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - diagnosis; Sarcopenia - epidemiology; Sarcopenia - physiopathology; Sarcopenic obesity; Walking; Walking Speed - physiology; Womens health; France; United States > US; Sarcopenic obesity; Sarcopenia; Mobility disability; Physical performance; Older adults
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-025-05895-9

Background Aging is associated with a progressive change of body composition characterized by muscle mass decline and accumulation of adipose tissue that can lead to sarcopenia and obesity, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia is poorly known given the different parameters and thresholds in proposed definitions. The combination of obesity (defined as a percentage of body fat mass of > 25% in men and > 35% in women) and sarcopenia (SO) adds complexity to the characterization of this pathology. SARA-OBS aimed to better characterize sarcopenia (including SO) and its consequences on physical function over time, in community-dwelling older adults at risk of mobility disability, and to support the design of further interventional clinical trials. Methods This was an international, multicenter, 6-month observational study of men and women aged ≥ 65 years suffering from sarcopenia according to the Foundation for the National Institute of Health (FNIH) cut-offs for Sarcopenia a nd with a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) ≤ 8. The primary endpoint was the change in Gait Speed (GS) in the 400-meter walking test (400MWT), reported at baseline and at Month 6/ end of the study (EOS). Secondary endpoints included changes in handgrip strength (HGS), physical performance (6-Minute Walking Distance [6MWD], SPPB), the Physical Function Domain (PF-10) sub-score and total score of the SF-36 survey and the Sarcopenia and Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire. Results Overall, the mean (± SD) change from baseline to Month 6/EOS in 400MWT GS was − 0.027 ± 0.171 m/sec ( p  = 0.064). Both GS and 6MWD decreased significantly in subgroup with GS ≥ 0.8 m/sec at baseline (-0.047 ± 0.185 m/sec; p  = 0.017 and − 24.01 ± 68.24 m; p  = 0.001, respectively). In subgroup with SPPB = 8 at baseline, 6MWD also decreased (-36.80 ± 67.60 m; p  < 0.001). We observed a significant change from baseline for 6MWD in the SO subgroup (-18.30 ± 81.95 m; p  = 0.013). Neither HGS nor SarQoL changed significantly from baseline to Month 6/EOS. Conclusions SARA-OBS results contribute to defining subgroups of older adults at risk of functional decline over 6 months, specifically subjects with SPPB = 8, affecting GS and the 6MWD. Additionally, the SO subpopulation exhibited a relevant deterioration in physical function as evaluated by the 6MWD. Trial registration NCT03021798 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Date of registration 16/01/2017.