Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia is a common syndrome in older adults, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and investigate its associated factors in elderly outpatients with T2DM at Thong Nhat Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 655 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who attended the Endocrinology Clinic of Thong Nhat Hospital from August 2024 to November 2024. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the 2019 criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019).

Results: A study enrolled 655 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with a mean age of 68.69 ± 6.7 years. Males accounted for 46.9% of the sample, while females comprised 53.1%. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia among elderly patients with T2DM was 32.5%, with females being approximately 1.81 times more likely to develop sarcopenia than males. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several significant risk factors for sarcopenia, including advanced age (OR = 1.22; p < 0.001), a prolonged duration of diabetes exceeding 10 years (OR = 1.24; p = 0.02), a low BMI (OR = 0.51; p < 0.001), and poor nutritional status. Specifically, individuals at risk of malnutrition (OR = 4.00; p = 0.01) and those classified as malnourished (OR = 6.77; p = 0.03) exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of sarcopenia. Additionally, elevated HbA1c levels (OR = 2.52; p < 0.001) and low physical activity levels (OR = 13.45; p = 0.005) were strongly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia.

Conclusion: Approximately one-third of elderly T2DM patients had sarcopenia, with a higher prevalence in women. The key associated factors included advanced age, prolonged diabetes duration, low BMI, poor nutritional status, elevated HbA1c levels, and reduced physical activity. These findings underscore the importance of early sarcopenia screening and timely interventions to improve patient quality of life.