We determined the prevalence of sarcopenia according to fracture site and evaluated the associated risk factors in female patients with osteoporotic fractures.

A total of 108 patients aged 50 years or older with an osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, or wrist) were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. A diagnosis of sarcopenia was confirmed using whole-body densitometry for skeletal muscle mass measurement. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for sarcopenia.

Of 108 female patients treated for osteoporotic fractures between January 2016 and June 2017, sarcopenia was diagnosed in 39 (36.1%). Of these, 41.5% (17/41) had hip fractures, 35% (14/40) had spine fractures, and 29.6% (8/27) had distal radius fractures. Body mass index (BMI; P =0.036) and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD; P =0.046) and rheumatoid arthritis ( P =0.051) were significantly different between the groups. In multivariable analysis, BMI (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–1.05, P =0.098) and CKD (OR 2.51; 95% CI, 0.38–16.2; P =0.233) were associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia; however, this was not statistically significant.

This study evaluated the prevalence of sarcopenia according to the fracture site and identified associated risk factors in patients with osteoporotic fractures. A longterm, observational study with a larger population is needed to validate our results.