To compare the ability of methods based on skeletal muscle index (SMI) and another one by the European Working Group
on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) based on both muscle mass and physical function in identifying older adults
with sarcopenia. Anthropometric measurements and physical performance (hand grip strength and gait speed) were
performed. In order to determine the value of SMI, body impedance analysis was also carried out. A total of 426 older
adults, mostly women (60.8%) with mean age of 68.4 ± 6.2 years participated in this study. Methods based on SMI and
EWGSOP identified 50.5% and 32.2% older adults as sarcopenic respectively. Method based on SMI showed a significantly
higher percentage of men (70.7%) were sarcopenic as compared to women (37.5%) (p < 0.05). No such difference was
noted for EWGSOP method, with 28.7% of men were sarcopenic as compared to women (34.4%). Binary logistic regression
indicated that aged 75 years and above (adjusted odds ratio: 3.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.9 – 5.6) and having arthritis
(adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, confidence interval: 1.3 – 4.7) to be associated with sarcopenia as assessed using method
recommended by EWGSOP. The lower prevalence of sarcopenia by EWGSOP as compared to SMI may be due to the more
comprehensive method by EWGSOP. Further research regarding validation of these two screening methods against a gold
standard of screening for sarcopenia is needed in order to identify the best method..
Diabetes is often associated with dysfunction in activities of daily living (ADL), especially among older adults. Hospitalisation of older adults is often followed by decline in functional status affecting their quality of life and well-being after discharge. The objective of this study was to determine the functional independence in carrying out basic activities of daily living, its relationship with quality of life, and the factors influencing the quality of life in hospitalised older adults with diabetes. This cross sectional study was carried out on 104 diabetic patients (mean age: 67.5 ± 9.2 years) who were receiving in-patient treatment. Face-to-face interviews were carried out to determine functional independence using Modified Barthel Index (MBI) as well as quality of life using the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Results showed that only 37.5% (n = 39) respondents were catergorised as being fully-independent. Among the domains in MBI, using the stairs recorded the lowest score followed by mobility. The physical domain in quality of life also recorded the lowest score compared to other domains of quality of life. There were significant (p < 0.05), positive correlations between the overall MBI scores and all domains of quality of life; physical (rs = 0.70), psychology (rs = 0.50), social (rs = 0.33) and environmental (rs = 0.25). Hierachical multiple regression analysis showed MBI scores had significant influence on all domains of quality of life, with the largest influence on the physical domain i.e. 36% [F(1, 92) = 82.14, p < 0.01, R2 = .36]. As a conclusion, hospitalisation reduces the functional independence in carrying out basic activities of daily living as well as the physical aspect of quality life in older adults with diabetes. Therefore, it is important to provide rehabilitation in activities of daily living while the elderly diabetics while undergoing in-patient treatment in order to maintain quality of life after discharge.