P079 - EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND SARCOPENIA AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A GENDER-BASED COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

P079

EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND SARCOPENIA AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A GENDER-BASED COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

B. Karaçar¹, G. Kaner^2,*, N. Seremet Kürklü³, G. Pamuk⁴

¹Geriatrics, ²Nutrition and Dietetics, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, ³Nutrition and Dietetics, Akdeniz University, ⁴Family Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Türkiye

Rationale: Understanding gender differences in nutrition and sarcopenia is crucial for improving health outcomes in older adults. This study aimed to assess nutritional status and sarcopenia in older individuals, with a focus on gender-based differences.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 older adults (206 women, 141 men; mean age: 70.3 ± 4.99 years). Data included sociodemographics, nutritional status, sarcopenia risk, physical activity (PA) levels, and anthropometric measures. Nutrition was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF); sarcopenia risk with the screeing of risk for sarcopenia questionnaire (SARC-F); and muscle strength by handgrip dynamometry. PA was measured with the short form of the International PA Questionnaire. Anthropometric data included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, muscle mass, fat mass, and body water percentage.

Results: Men had higher MNA-SF scores (12.8 vs. 12.2; p=0.000), while women had greater malnutrition risk (25.2% vs. 14.2%; p=0.020). SARC-F scores were also higher in women (3.1 vs. 1.6; p=0.000), indicating greater sarcopenia risk. Subscores for strength, stair climbing, and falls were worse in women. Men had stronger handgrip (p=0.000), though low grip strength prevalence did not differ by gender (p=0.495). Men had higher PA, especially in walking and total metabolic equivalent of task (METs) (p=0.001 and p=0.000), although all were minimally active. Men had higher waist circumference, muscle and bone mass, while women had higher body fat percentage. BMI did not differ significantly (p=0.156). SARC-F scores showed negative correlations with MET, MNA-SF, BMI, grip strength, muscle and bone mass (p<0.05), and a weak positive correlation with body fat percentage (r=0.111; p=0.039).

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Conclusion: Older women are at higher risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia. Gender-specific strategies are recommended.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared