Sarcopenia Components and Fall Risk in Older Koreans : An Up-to-Date Analysis Using the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2023)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sarcopenia and falls are major public health concerns in aging populations. This study aimed to investigate the individual and relative associations of the three core components of sarcopenia—low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical performance—with the risk of falls in older Korean adults. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1,556 adults aged 65 and older from the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2023). Sarcopenia components were defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS2019) criteria. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, accounting for the complex survey design, was performed to assess the association between sarcopenia components and self-reported falls in the past year. After adjusting for multiple confounders, low muscle mass (OR=2.463, p=.064) and low physical performance (OR=2.115, p=.088) showed a trend toward an increased risk of falls, although these associations did not reach the conventional level of statistical significance (p<.05). In contrast, low muscle strength was not significantly associated with fall risk. Our findings suggest that low muscle mass and impaired physical performance are more critical determinants of fall risk than low muscle strength in the older Korean population. Therefore, fall prevention strategies should prioritize preserving muscle mass and enhancing overall physical function.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Ⅰ. Introduction
• Ⅱ. Methods
• 1. Study participants
• 2. Measurements
• 3. Statistical analysis
• Ⅲ. Results
• 1. General characteristics of study participants
• 2. Association between sarcopenia components and fall risk
• 3. Interaction effect analysis
• Ⅳ. Discussion
• Ⅴ. Conclusion
• References