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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East countries: a meta-analysis

  • Bader A. Alqahtani1
  • Norah A. Alhwoaimel1
  • Bashayer A. AlHarbi2
  • Ahmad A. Alsayer3
  • Aqeel M. Alenazi1
  1. 1Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
  2. 2Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Center, Ministry of Health
  3. 3School of Education, Taibah University
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Abstract

This systematic review aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Middle Eastern countries.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted. A computerized systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS from inception to September 2025 was performed to capture all possible relevant titles. Inclusion criteria included all primary studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries on Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older.

Results: A total of 11 studies were included in the study. Random-effects meta-analysis of 11 studies indicated a pooled prevalence rate of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East was 35% (95% CI, 23 to 48, I ² = 99.3%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). The Egger's regression test for detecting publication bias did not detect any evidence of publication bias in the sample of included studies.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults in the Middle East is relatively high (35%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). These findings highlight that sarcopenia is a significant public health concern requiring a national public health strategy to prevent its progression and associated complications.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{alqahtani2026prevalence,
  title = {{Prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East countries: a meta-analysis}},
  author = {Bader A. Alqahtani and Norah A. Alhwoaimel and Bashayer A. AlHarbi and Ahmad A. Alsayer and Aqeel M. Alenazi},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1968834},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1968834/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East countries: a meta-analysis
AU  - Bader A. Alqahtani
AU  - Norah A. Alhwoaimel
AU  - Bashayer A. AlHarbi
AU  - Ahmad A. Alsayer
AU  - Aqeel M. Alenazi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1968834
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1968834/full
AB  - This systematic review aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Middle Eastern countries.  Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted. A computerized systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS from inception to September 2025 was performed to capture all possible relevant titles. Inclusion criteria included all primary studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries on Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older.  Results: A total of 11 studies were included in the study. Random-effects meta-analysis of 11 studies indicated a pooled prevalence rate of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East was 35% (95% CI, 23 to 48, I ² = 99.3%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). The Egger's regression test for detecting publication bias did not detect any evidence of publication bias in the sample of included studies.  Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults in the Middle East is relatively high (35%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). These findings highlight that sarcopenia is a significant public health concern requiring a national public health strategy to prevent its progression and associated complications.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -