Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41735879›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2026

Comparative analysis of sarcopenic obesity detection and associated mental-cognitive outcomes in community-dwelling older adults: impact of using body mass index versus waist circumference.

Pengxin Dong, Haichen Wu, Yidan Chai, Ping Huang, Dongmei Huang, Caili Li, Xiao Pan, Pinyue Tao, Lichong Lai, Xiaoying Cao and 7 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Pengxin DongNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Haichen WuNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Yidan ChaiNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Ping HuangNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Dongmei HuangRehabilitation Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Caili LiGeneral Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Xiao PanEar, Nose and Throat Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Pinyue TaoAnesthesiology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Lichong LaiEmergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Xiaoying CaoPediatric Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Jie PengNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Xiaoling FengNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Jingyun ZengNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Zhixin LiNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Haowei LiuNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Huimin ZhouNursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Huiqiao HuangParty Committee Office, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China. hhq@sr.gxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 2024004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSarcopenic obesity (SO), defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity, is associated with adverse physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes in older adults. In community settings lacking advanced body composition measurement tools, simplified screening indicators are often used. The Ishii score, based on age, handgrip strength, and calf circumference, offers high predictive accuracy for sarcopenia. Body mass index (BMI) reflects overall adiposity, whereas waist circumference (WC) represents central obesity. However, evidence directly comparing SO prevalence and related characteristics using BMI versus WC in Chinese community populations remains limited.

objectivesTo compare SO prevalence, agreement, and associated factors when using BMI or WC as the obesity index in combination with the Ishii score, and to examine differences in sociodemographic, psychological, and cognitive characteristics across SO phenotypes.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 880 community-dwelling older adults in Guangxi, China. Sarcopenia was defined using the Ishii score (≥ 105 for men, ≥ 120 for women), and obesity was defined by BMI (≥ 28 kg/m²) or WC (≥ 90 cm in men, ≥ 85 cm in women). Participants were categorized into four phenotypes: non-obesity/non-sarcopenia (NONS), isolated obesity (IO), isolated sarcopenia (IS), and sarcopenic obesity (SO). Cohen's Kappa assessed agreement between methods. Group differences were analyzed using chi-square(χ²) tests, t tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regression. Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment were assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Ascertain Dementia-8 (AD-8), respectively.

resultsSO prevalence was 3.2% (BMI method) versus 14.1% (WC method), with moderate agreement (Kappa = 0.572). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that WC-based SO was significantly associated with male sex, low monthly income, and lack of attention to nutritional information. BMI-based SO was primarily associated with older age and the presence of multimorbidity. For mental-cognitive outcomes, both SO phenotypes were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. However, the strength of association with depressive symptoms was markedly greater for the BMI-defined SO group (OR = 7.823, 95% CI: 3.198-19.139) than for the WC-defined SO group (OR = 2.105, 95% CI: 1.097-4.042).

conclusionsThe choice of obesity index substantially influences SO detection, with WC identifying a much larger and likely earlier-stage at-risk population. The BMI-based definition, while identifying fewer cases, captured a severe SO phenotype with exceptionally strong associations with depressive symptoms.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexCognitionIndependent LivingObesitySarcopeniaWaist CircumferenceAgedAged, 80 and overAging in PlaceChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleBody mass indexIshii scoreOlder adultsSarcopenic obesityWaist circumference

Identifiers

PMID41735879
PMCPMC13037102

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.