Prevalence and diagnostic variability of sarcopenia in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Indian J Med ResSep 1, 2026
Mogan Kaviprawin, Gnanaprakash Gurusamy, Carolin Elizabeth George et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of sarcopenia in India, analyzing 44 studies. The findings revealed a pooled prevalence of 36.3% for probable sarcopenia, 35.4% for confirmed sarcopenia, and 9.9% for severe sarcopenia. The study highlights significant variability in diagnostic criteria used across studies, which complicates burden estimation.
Key findings
- The pooled prevalence of probable sarcopenia was 36.3% (95% CI: 26-48%).
- Confirmed sarcopenia had a pooled prevalence of 35.4% (95% CI: 28.8-42.5%).
- Severe sarcopenia prevalence was 9.9% (95% CI: 5.6-16.7%).
- 54.5% of studies used consensus-based definitions for diagnosing sarcopenia.
Why it matters
Understanding the prevalence of sarcopenia is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation. The variability in diagnostic criteria underscores the need for standardized definitions to improve detection and management of this condition.