P-204: The FNIH-criteria for sarcopenia predict 12 year mortality in ambulatory older men

Objectives: The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health [FNIH] Sarcopenia Project recently developed new criteria for diagnosis of weakness and low muscle mass in older adults. These criteria were associated with increased likelihood for incident mobility impairment. However, mortality risk patterns were inconsistent and further validation of their cut-off points in other populations seems needed (McLean et al., 2014 Journals of Gerontology). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the FNIH cut-off points for weakness and low muscle mass in a sample of community-dwelling older men in Belgium. Methods: This community-based cohort study included 200 ambulatory men aged ≥74, living in the community of Merelbeke (municipality of Ghent, Belgium). Grip strength was measured twice consecutively using a Jamar type dynamometer. Weakness was defined as low grip strength (<26kg) and low grip strength-to-body mass index[BMI] ratio (<1.00). Low muscle mass (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) was categorized as low appendicular lean mass[ALM] (<19.75kg) and low ALM-to-BMI ratio (<0.789). Results: Mean age was 78.5(±3.5) years. Combined weakness and low muscle mass was present in 4 to 9% of men, depending on the criteria applied. After 12 years of follow-up, 134 men (67%) had died. Low grip strength (HR=1.59,95%CI=1.06–2.28), low grip strength-to-BMI ratio (HR=1.65,95%CI=1.03–2.65) and low ALM-to-BMI ratio (HR=1.68,95%CI=1.18–2.41), but not low ALM, were associated with all-cause mortality in older community-dwelling men. Conclusions: These findings confirm the FNIH cut-off points for low grip strength and low ALM-to-BMI ratio as candidate criteria for clinically relevant weakness and low muscle mass in men.