Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in climacteric women of the Colombian Caribbean

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in climacteric middle-aged women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Colombian Caribbean women (40-59 y, n=403), who were surveyed with a form that included sociodemographic information and two validated tools (the Menopause Rating Scale and the SF-36 Health questionnaire). Calf circumference, handgrip, and gait speed were measured. Low muscle mass (calf circumference <31 cm), reduced muscle strength (<20 kg in handgrip), and lower physical performance (<0.8 m/s gait speed) were estimated. Criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People were used to identify sarcopenia. Association between sarcopcnia (dependent variable) and menopausal symptoms and health perception (independent variables) was estimated. Results: Median age of surveyed women was 48 years, with 44.5% being postmenopausal. 9.6% had low muscle mass, 18,1% had reduced muscle strength, and 6.9% had lower physical performance. Presarcopenia was identified in 9.6% and sarcopenia in 7.9% (nonsevere sarcopcnia 7,1% and severe sarcopenia 0.8%). Most important factors associated with sarcopcnia were feeling full of life only sometimes, feeling a lot of energy only sometimes, having joint/muscular discomfort, history of hysterectomy, hot flashes, mestizo ethnic group, age 50 or more, being postmenopausal, and sleep problems. Conclusions: Sarcopenia was present in this middle-aged female Colombian Caribbean sample and associated with various factors such as ethnicity, age, and menopausal symptoms and status.