Sarcopenia and its association with physical activity and sedentary time in older adults on the Bushehr Elderly Health program

Sarcopenia has a prevalence of between 10 and 27% among people over 60 years of age in Iran. Sarcopenia, as a multifactorial disorder, can lead to serious consequences, including reduced physical ability, lower quality of life, and increased risk of mortality. This study aimed to shed more light on the association of physical activity and sedentary time with sarcopenia. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the data collected during phase II of the Bushehr Elderly Health cohort. Demographic information, past medical history, anthropometric indices, and laboratory tests were analyzed. Sedentary time and physical activity were determined using a verified questionnaire. Sarcopenia was defined according to the revised edition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP-2). A total of 2374 individuals were analyzed, with a mean age of 69.3 years (± 6.3), 52.06% of whom were female, and 852 participants (35.8%) demonstrated sarcopenia. Univariate analysis found age, sex, smoking, socioeconomic status, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and triglyceride to be associated with sarcopenia. After adjustment, older adults with moderate (OR_moderate/low=2.32, 95% CI = 1.02-5.27, P = 0.045) or high (OR_high/low = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.45-6.48, P = 0.003) sedentary time were significantly more affected by sarcopenia than individuals with low sedentary time. In addition, the risks of sarcopenia in individuals with physical activity were 25% lower compared to people with no physical activity (OR_{low active/active/no active/sedentary} = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96, P = 0.025). Both physical activity and sedentary time are independently associated with sarcopenia. Changing the attitudes and practices of the elderly or their caregivers regarding the necessity of regular physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior is recommended as a strategy for preventing sarcopenia.