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Definition, assessments, and current research on sarcopenia in children: a narrative review
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Min-Jung Bang
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Ann Clin Nutr Metab 2024;16(2):49-56. Published online August 1, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15747/ACNM.2024.16.2.49
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 Abstract
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- Purpose: Sarcopenia is a well-established prognostic factor for the clinical outcomes of adult patients with cancer and chronic diseases and correlates with increased intensive care unit admissions and prolonged hospital stays. However, research on sarcopenia in children is limited due to its undefined criteria and a lack of studies exploring its impact on clinical outcomes.
Current concept: The challenges in pediatric sarcopenia research include the absence of standardized body composition methods to quantify muscle mass and muscular function, as well as inconsistencies in definitions. Additionally, there is a lack of age- and gender-specific normative data, particularly for young children and infants. Most studies also lack assessments of muscle function, which can lead to bias and misclassification of sarcopenia. The field is further hindered by poor study quality, limited outcome-focused research, and a dearth of longitudinal data. While some studies suggest that various diseases can affect children’s lean muscle mass, few have linked changes in muscle mass to clinical outcomes.
Conclusion: The existing literature on pediatric sarcopenia and its relationship with medical and surgical outcomes is sparse and indicates poorer outcomes associated with sarcopenia. Although extensive research has established a link between sarcopenia and adverse outcomes in adults, information on its impact in pediatric populations remains scarce. Further studies are needed to elucidate the association between muscle mass and outcomes in pediatric surgical patients.
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