Page 164 - Ebook-Book JCMS 2025

Association between Different Skeletal Muscle Mass Indices
and Low muscle function in Thai older adults, Comprehen-
sive Geriatric Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital,
Bangkok
Kewalin Leelasuthanon1,2, Sakunee Bharakulsuksathit1,2, Natthaphon Ubonsutvanich3,4*
1 Department of Family Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
2 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
3 Comprehensive Geriatric Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
4 Department of Internal Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
*Corresponding Author E-mail: uob.natthaphon@gmail.com
Background: Abstract
Sarcopenia is a significant health issue in Thailand’s aging society, but current diagnostic
methods have limitations. This study aimed to identify the most appropriate skeletal muscle
mass index for diagnosing low muscle function among Thai older adults.
Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted using electronic medical records of 3,974
elderly patients from the Comprehensive Geriatric Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital,
between 2018 and 2024. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the
optimal indices for predicting low muscle performance.
Results: Conclusion: Participants had a mean age of 67.03 ± 5.12 years, predominantly female (75.92%). Low
hand-grip strength was found in 21.54%, and low gait speed in 4.0%. The ASM/WHtR index
showed the highest predictive accuracy (AUC) for low muscle function in both sexes.
The ASM/WHtR index is the most suitable for predicting low muscle performance in Thai
older adults. It is recommended to adjust ASM/h² cut-off values in females to <5.4 and gait
speed thresholds to <1.4 m/s to improve diagnostic accuracy.
162 Joint Conference in Medical Sciences 2025