P083 - ASSOCIATION OF AGE- AND SEX-SPECIFIC CALF CIRCUMFERENCE PERCENTILES WITH PROBABLE SARCOPENIA IN GERIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

P083

ASSOCIATION OF AGE- AND SEX-SPECIFIC CALF CIRCUMFERENCE PERCENTILES WITH PROBABLE SARCOPENIA IN GERIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

O. Turhan^1,*, M. Eşme¹, B. B. Doğu¹, M. G. Halil¹, M. Cankurtaran¹, C. Balcı¹

¹Division of Geriatric Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: Calf circumference (CC) is a practical surrogate for muscle mass. Age- and sex-specific percentile references (Martone et al., 2023) allow more accurate interpretation in older adults. We aimed to evaluate the association between CC percentiles and probable sarcopenia defined by low handgrip strength.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1572 geriatric outpatients (≥65 years) from Hacettepe University. CC percentiles were categorized as <5th, 5–25th, 25–50th, and >50th based on age- and sex-specific Lookup 7+ references. Probable sarcopenia was defined as handgrip strength <27 kg in men and <16 kg in women. In regression analyses, CC percentiles were dichotomized as <5th vs ≥5th. Frailty was defined as Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score ≥5. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used.

Results: Among 1572 patients (median age 73 years, 64% female), 505 (32.1%) had probable sarcopenia. The prevalence of probable sarcopenia was higher in those with CC <5th percentile (45.6%) than in those ≥5th percentile (30.6%) (p<0.001). A significant linear trend was observed across increasing CC percentiles, with prevalence decreasing from 45.6% (<5th) to 26.2% (>50th percentile) (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, being below the 5th percentile for CC was independently associated with higher odds of probable sarcopenia (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.09–2.29; p=0.015). Advanced age (OR: 1.08), male sex (OR: 0.51), and frailty (OR: 3.92) were also significant predictors (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Age- and sex-specific calf circumference percentiles are independently associated with probable sarcopenia. This simple anthropometric index, when interpreted using reference charts, may support early detection of muscle weakness in clinical geriatric practice.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared