Lack of knowledge in health care about sarcopenia impairs proper treatment!

Huge progress has been made in the fight against the disease sarcopenia, age related low muscle mass and strength: very effective preventative interventions and therapies, once individuals suffer from the disease, are available, but only a very minimal fraction of older individuals living with the disease are receiving treatment! 

Results of our ?Sarcopenia Road Show: Although the concept of sarcopenia is familiar to most (Dutch) healthcare professionals, proper application of diagnostics as well as therapies are significantly lacking, mostly by lack of formal knowledge, availability of equipment and time constraints. Also, collaboration between healthcare professionals, the basis of evidence based management of sarcopenia, is minimal. The system has to be improved significantly to successfully fight the disease!

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185837

Key points:

- at least 20 percent of individuals aged 65 years and older suffer from sarcopenia.

- Sarcopenia is the most important cause for mobility impairment.

- Sarcopenia leads to falls and fractures.

- Sarcopenia significantly decreases quality of life.

- Sarcopenia is preventable and one of the few diseases at old age being curable.

- The healthcare system has to action by increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals, investing in diagnostic equipement and facilitating multidisciplinary therapies.