It turned out that when muscle mass decreases in old age, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease rises.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health said on the 19th, "Tracking 2,997 adults age 65 and older showed that those with sarcopenia had a 1.92 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 1.45 times higher risk of death."
Sarcopenia is a condition in which aging reduces muscle mass and strength and lowers physical function. It is cited as a major factor that threatens health in old age by increasing the risk of falls or fractures. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as of 2022 the prevalence of sarcopenia among adults age 80 and older reached 20%.
The research team analyzed the association among sarcopenia, cardiovascular disease, and the risk of death in 2,997 adults age 65 and older. They linked academic research service data from the National Institute of Health with data from the National Health Insurance Service and Statistics Korea. As a result, sarcopenia in old age was found to affect cardiovascular disease and death.
The findings were published on Feb. 16 in the international journal Scientific Reports. An official at the National Institute of Health said, "Consistent management in old age is important," adding, "You should exercise regularly and periodically check for changes in gait."