# Assessing the risk of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Israel: a national cross-sectional survey

## TL;DR

This study found that over two-thirds of older adults in Israel are at risk for sarcopenia, with factors like age, ethnicity, and physical inactivity playing a role.

## Contribution

The study provides the first national assessment of sarcopenia risk in Israel and identifies key demographic and health-related risk factors.

## Key findings

- 65.1% of adults aged 65+ in Israel were at risk for sarcopenia.
- Older age, Arab ethnicity, and physical inactivity were strongly associated with sarcopenia risk.
- Polypharmacy and functional limitations also increased the likelihood of sarcopenia risk.

## Abstract

The aim is to assess the risk of sarcopenia and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in Israel.

Based on a nationally representative survey, 65.1% of adults aged 65 and older were at risk for sarcopenia and identify key associated factors including older age, Arab ethnicity, lower education, polypharmacy, physical inactivity, and functional limitations.

Early screening for sarcopenia should be integrated into routine care for older adults, particularly those with known risk factors.

With aging population and the growing burden of sarcopenia on health systems, early risk assessment is essential. This study assessed the risk of sarcopenia and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults.

This cross-sectional study used data from the Israel National Elderly Falls Survey (2018–2019) among adults aged 65+ by the Israel Center for Disease Control. Data were collected via telephone interviews on demographic, health, and functional characteristics. Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the validated five-item Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA-5) questionnaire, with a cutoff score of ≤ 45 indicating risk. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sarcopenia risk.

A total of 2668 participants were included in the study, with a mean age of 73.2 ± 5.7 years, and 56.3% were female. Based on the MSRA-5 cutoff score (≤ 45), 65.1% (n = 1738) were classified as at risk for sarcopenia. Older age (OR = 1.21 per 5-year increase, 95% CI 1.10–1.33), Arab ethnicity (OR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.59–2.64), lower education level (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.29–1.92), and anxiety/depression (OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.32–2.54) were associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia risk. Functional limitations, including difficulty performing household activities (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.42–2.69) and physical inactivity (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.40–2.11), were also associated with sarcopenia risk. A dose–response relationship was observed with medication use, with progressively higher odds of sarcopenia risk among those taking > 8 medications per day (OR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.52–4.98).

These findings highlight the high prevalence of sarcopenia risk among older adults in Israel and emphasize the importance of early screening to identify at-risk individuals.