Osteosarcopenic Obesity’s Role in Older Adults’ Falls and Vertebral Fractures

Objective: The co-occurrence of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity is known as osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO). This study examined the frequency of OSO in older adult outpatients and its connection to falls and spinal fractures. Materials and Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were outpatients 60 years of age or above. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) determined that the patients had sarcopenia EWGSOP2, had bone densitometry, completed a comprehensive geriatric examination, and were categorized as obese based on their body fat percentage. The researchers diagnosed patients with OSO by selecting those who fulfilled the criteria for poor bone density, diminished muscle strength, decreased walking velocity, and increased body fat percentile. The patients were categorized into four groups: only obese, exclusively osteoporotic obese, purely sarcopenic obese, and OSO patients and thereafter assessed. Fractures detected with radiological assessment. Results: All 317 elderly people contributed to this research, with 12.2% (39 out of 317) identified as having OSO. The occurrence of falls was significantly elevated in OSO patients relative to those in the sarcopenic obese, the osteoporotic obese, and the obese cohorts (p<0.001). Moreover, OSO patients demonstrated a markedly higher incidence of vertebral fractures in comparison to the obese, osteoporotic obese, and sarcopenic obese cohorts (p=0.001). Conclusion: Older adults with OSO face a heightened risk of falls and vertebral fractures relative to those classified as sarcopenic obese, osteoporotic obese, or obese.