Prevalence of sarcopenia, sarcopenia obesity and their association with nutritional status among elderly residents in a Hanoi aged care center, Vietnam

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) are increasingly recognized as important geriatric syndromes, often associated with poor nutritional status and altered body composition. However, data on these conditions among institutionalized elderly in Vietnam remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and SO and to examine their associations with nutritional status in an aged care center in Hanoi, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 93 residents aged ≥60 years. Sarcopenia and SO were diagnosed based on the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) and the ESPEN/EASO consensus. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment long-form (MNA-LF). Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations. The prevalence of sarcopenia and SO was 60.2% and 15.1%, respectively. Individuals with sarcopenia had significantly lower BMI, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water, phase angle, and body protein content ( P < 0.01). In contrast, those with SO had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, and visceral fat area, but lower skeletal muscle mass. Overweight status was inversely associated with sarcopenia (aOR = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.002–0.33; P = 0.004), while it significantly increased the odds of SO (aOR = 17.59; 95% CI: 2.05–150.81; P = 0.009). Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are highly prevalent among elderly residents in aged care facilities and are closely linked to nutritional status. Routine screening of nutritional status and body composition should be prioritized to support early detection and personalized interventions in this vulnerable population.