The Impact of Age on the Prevalence of Sarcopenic Obesity in Bariatric Surgery Candidates.

Background: Sarcopenia pre-dating bariatric surgery (BS) has been suggested as concern for the use of BS in older-adults with morbid obesity. Objective: To evaluate the impact of age on the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in BS-candidates. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 1370 consecutive BS-candidates aged ≥18, and grouped according to age: 18–39 (reference group), 40–49, 50–59 and ≥ 60 years. From body composition analysis data obtained using bioelectrical impedance, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), SMM index (SMMI=SMM/height²), and percentage of SMM (%SMM = SMM/BW*100) were calculated. Class I or class II SO was adjudicated, respectively, when a value between > − 1 and − 2, or > −2 standard deviations from the regression line from the gender-specific distribution of the relationship between BMI and SMMI or the %SMM in the reference group was encountered. Results: According to the SMMI distribution, prevalence of class I and class II SO in the whole cohort was respectively 16.4% and 4.6%. SO was more prevalent in females (p < 0.005). Proportion of subjects with SO positively correlated with older age category in females (Tau-c = 0.149, p < 0.001) but not in males. In females aged ≥60, class I SO was present in 29.1%, and class II in 12.8%. Similar results were obtained when %SMM was used (Cohen's k-coefficient = 0.886, p < 0.001). Age and female gender were identified as independent preditors of SO, whereas CRP or the presence of obesity-associated comorbidities were not. Conclusion: Age is a risk factor for SO in BS-candidates. SO is fairly common in female subjects aged >60 years that are candidates to BS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]