Postoperative sarcopenia in older patients with hip fractures: incidence and associated risk factors in a retrospective cohort study

Objective: Sarcopenia significantly impacts the quality of life in older adults. Given the lack of large-scale studies on risk factors for postoperative sarcopenia in older hip fracture patients, this study investigated its incidence and associated risk factors. Materials and methods: This retrospective study enrolled older patients who were admitted for surgical treatment of hip fractures. Results: < 0.05) were observed across age, marital status, education levels, living arrangements, exercise habits, masticatory function, the number of chronic diseases, albumin levels, and activities of daily living (ADL) scores. Multivariate regression analysis identified age, education levels, activities of daily living (ADL) scores, and masticatory function as independent risk factors for sarcopenia. Conclusion: This study identified several risk factors for sarcopenia following hip fracture surgery in older adults, providing a basis for targeted clinical interventions to mitigate postoperative muscle loss.