Sarcopenia in older adults: Prevalence and links to depression and physical activity

doi:10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.112901

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World Journal of Psychiatry

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2220-3206

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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World J Psychiatry. Feb 19, 2026; 16(2): 112901
Published online Feb 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.112901

Sarcopenia in older adults: Prevalence and links to depression and physical activity

Wen-Na Sha, Dan Chen, Hua-Fang Li, Mei-Jie Zhou, Xiang-Ying Yang

Wen-Na Sha, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine One, Xiasha Campus, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China

Dan Chen, Hua-Fang Li, Xiang-Ying Yang, Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang Province, China

Mei-Jie Zhou, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Three, Xiasha Campus, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China

Author contributions: Sha WN, Chen D, Li HF and Zhou MJ contributed to research design, data collection, data analysis, and paper writing; Yang XY was responsible for research design, funding application, data analysis, reviewing and editing, communication coordination, ethical review, copyright and licensing, and follow-up.

Supported by 2024 Annual Project of Medical and Health Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, No. 2024KY184.

Institutional review board statement: The research was reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Board of Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University (Approval No. KY-20240619-0212-01).

Informed consent statement: All research participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent prior to study registration.

Conflict-of-interest statement: No conflict of interest is associated with this work.

STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement—checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement—checklist of items.

Data sharing statement: No other data available.

Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Corresponding author: Xiang-Ying Yang, PhD, Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China. zhenghanqi202507@163.com

Received: September 16, 2025
Revised: October 23, 2025
Accepted: December 2, 2025
Published online: February 19, 2026
Processing time: 135 Days and 22 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia, a common debilitating geriatric syndrome, is frequently accompanied by depression and physical inactivity, forming a detrimental cycle that accelerates functional decline. However, hospital-based data on these interrelationships among Chinese older adults remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in geriatric in- and out-patients and to test the hypothesis that sarcopenia is independently associated with higher depression scores and lower objectively measured physical activity.

AIM

To determine sarcopenia prevalence and its associations with depression and physical activity in older adults.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 346 adults aged ≥ 60 years were recruited via convenience sampling from geriatric departments of hospitals. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, χ² tests, Spearman correlation, and binary logistic regression were employed to examine group differences, variable associations, and independent predictors of sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Sarcopenia was identified in 62/346 participants (17.92%). Significant inter-group differences emerged for age, body mass index (BMI), coronary artery disease, hypertension, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, and 6-m gait speed (P < 0.05). Individuals with sarcopenia reported markedly lower physical activity: A higher prevalence of low activity and lower Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores (P < 0.001). Spearman correlations revealed ASMI, grip strength, and gait speed were inversely related to depressive symptoms, while positively linked to physical activity (P < 0.01). Logistic regression confirmed 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale and PASE scores independently predicted sarcopenia after adjustment for age, BMI, coronary artery disease, and hypertension (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is linked to depression and physical inactivity in elderly inpatients, supporting the need for integrated screening and comprehensive management in clinical practice.

Keywords: Elderly people; Sarcopenia; Epidemiology; Depression; Physical activity level; Correlation

Core Tip: This study explores the relationship between sarcopenia, depressive symptoms, and physical activity levels in older adults. It highlights the high prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with mental health and lifestyle factors. Depressive symptoms may worsen muscle loss, while appropriate physical activity, especially resistance and aerobic exercises, can help prevent and alleviate the condition. The findings aim to support early detection and targeted interventions, offering important insights for public health strategies.