Diabetic sarcopenia in clinical practice: expert consensus and usability evaluation of a novel screening and diagnostic algorithm.
15 affiliations
- 1Endocrinology Department, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.
- 2Geriatrics Department, Hospital La Pedrera, Dénia, Spain.
- 3FRAGIVAL Associated Clinical Group to CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES) ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
- 4Medical School, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
- 5Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Badajoz, Badajoz, Spain.
- 6Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid and Valladolid Health Research Institute (IBioVALL), Valladolid, Spain.
- 7Endocrinology and Nutrition Research Centre Faculty of Medicine University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
- 8Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBEROBN) of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- 9Clinical Management Unit of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Virgen de la Victoria Clinical Hospital, Málaga, Spain.
- 10Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria de Malaga, Malaga Biomedical Research Institute and BIONAND Platform, Malaga, Spain.
- 11Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Quironsalud Malaga Hospital, Malaga, Spain.
- 12Spanish Biomedical Research Center in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.
- 13Internal Medicine Department, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Seville, Spain.
- 14Medical Department, Abbott Laboratories, Madrid, Spain.
- 15Endocrinology and Nutrition Clinical Management Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Abstract
Introduction
Recently, an expert panel developed an algorithm for the screening, diagnosis, and staging of diabetic sarcopenia, a clinically relevant condition in the progression of diabetes. Sarcopenia is associated with an increased risk of falls, physical disability, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality.Methods
A qualitative study, with quantitative aspects, was conducted to assess medical specialists' opinions on the applicability of the proposed algorithm. Data was collected using a questionnaire that included information relating to user experience, a usability questionnaire, a survey of healthcare professionals' opinions and a consensus form administered using the Delphi method.Results
The questionnaire was completed by 299 doctors (65.9% were women, mean age 39.1 (SD 8.5) years and with a mean of 10.4 (SD 8) years' experience). Most respondents indicated that screening for sarcopenia should be prioritised in patients with recent hospitalisations, major surgery, prolonged immobilisation and malignancies (Median 9, IQ0) and should be repeated annually in high-risk patients without a confirmed diagnosis (Median 8, IQ2). The algorithm was considered suitable for muscle assessment in people with diabetes. 90% of participants considered the tool to be easy to use, requiring no specialist staff (70%), and taking less than 7 min to apply (88%). For most respondents, use of the algorithm has changed the approach to decision-making regarding sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes.Conclusion
The findings highlight the importance of systematic screening, diagnosis, and staging of diabetic sarcopenia, and demonstrate high levels of perceived applicability and usability of the proposed algorithm in routine clinical practice.
Related
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- Sarcopenia in Hospitalized Patients: A Critical Narrative Review of Diagnostic and Nutritional Management Approaches
- Pre-diagnostic low muscle mass and sarcopenia associated with subsequent cancer in Chinese adults: a longitudinal CHARLS study
BibTeX
@article{sanzparis2026diabetic,
title = {{Diabetic sarcopenia in clinical practice: expert consensus and usability evaluation of a novel screening and diagnostic algorithm.}},
author = {Alejandro Sanz-Paris and Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina and Juana Carretero Gómez and Daniel de Luis Román and José Manuel García-Almeida and Fernando Garrachón-Vallo and Juan José López-Gómez and Germán Guzmán-Rolo and Pedro Pablo García-Luna},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1906664},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908930},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Diabetic sarcopenia in clinical practice: expert consensus and usability evaluation of a novel screening and diagnostic algorithm.
AU - Alejandro Sanz-Paris
AU - Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina
AU - Juana Carretero Gómez
AU - Daniel de Luis Román
AU - José Manuel García-Almeida
AU - Fernando Garrachón-Vallo
AU - Juan José López-Gómez
AU - Germán Guzmán-Rolo
AU - Pedro Pablo García-Luna
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1906664
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908930
AB - Introduction Recently, an expert panel developed an algorithm for the screening, diagnosis, and staging of diabetic sarcopenia, a clinically relevant condition in the progression of diabetes. Sarcopenia is associated with an increased risk of falls, physical disability, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality.Methods A qualitative study, with quantitative aspects, was conducted to assess medical specialists' opinions on the applicability of the proposed algorithm. Data was collected using a questionnaire that included information relating to user experience, a usability questionnaire, a survey of healthcare professionals' opinions and a consensus form administered using the Delphi method.Results The questionnaire was completed by 299 doctors (65.9% were women, mean age 39.1 (SD 8.5) years and with a mean of 10.4 (SD 8) years' experience). Most respondents indicated that screening for sarcopenia should be prioritised in patients with recent hospitalisations, major surgery, prolonged immobilisation and malignancies (Median 9, IQ0) and should be repeated annually in high-risk patients without a confirmed diagnosis (Median 8, IQ2). The algorithm was considered suitable for muscle assessment in people with diabetes. 90% of participants considered the tool to be easy to use, requiring no specialist staff (70%), and taking less than 7 min to apply (88%). For most respondents, use of the algorithm has changed the approach to decision-making regarding sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes.Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of systematic screening, diagnosis, and staging of diabetic sarcopenia, and demonstrate high levels of perceived applicability and usability of the proposed algorithm in routine clinical practice.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -