Impact of sarcopenia on swallowing and vocal functions in elderly adults: a prospective comparative study

Abstract Background Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, commonly affects the elderly and is associated with increased physical disability, decreased quality of life. This study aims to assess the effect of sarcopenia on swallowing and voice functions in geriatric patients using objective and subjective evaluation methods. The study included 40 participants aged 65 and older, divided into sarcopenic ( n = 20) and control ( n = 20) groups based on the SARC-F questionnaire and handgrip strength measurements. Swallowing function was evaluated with fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT- 10). Vocal function was analyzed using acoustic voice analysis—fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR)—, maximum phonation time (MPT) and the Voice-Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) questionnaire. Results The prevalence of dysphagia was higher in the sarcopenic group, with a mean EAT- 10 score of 2.55 ± 3.64 compared to 1.5 ± 2.3 in controls ( p = 0.032). Although the sarcopenic group exhibited slightly higher PAS scores, no aspiration was observed in either group. Acoustic analysis showed no significant differences in F0, jitter, shimmer, or HNR between groups; however, MPT was significantly shorter in the sarcopenic group (8.3 ± 2 s vs. 9.8 ± 2.1 s, p = 0.026). VRQOL scores were lower in sarcopenic participants, though not statistically significant. Conclusions Sarcopenia appears to be associated with subtle but measurable impairments in swallowing and voice functions in older adults. Although most acoustic and endoscopic parameters did not differ significantly, higher dysphagia scores and reduced maximum phonation time in sarcopenic individuals suggest early functional decline. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive laryngopharyngeal assessments in geriatric patients with sarcopenia.