<span>NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PREVALENCE OF SARCOPENIA USING THE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION SCALES AMONG THE ELDERLY IN A RURAL COMMUNE IN THAI BINH PROVINCE</span>

Aims: To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia using different classification scales among the elderly in Dong Hoang commune, Dong Hung district, Thai Binh province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 224 elderly people in the study area. The nutritional status of the participants was assessed and classified using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Body Mass Index (BMI), and physical activity levels (IPAQ-SF). Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on criteria from AWGS, SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition, based on BMI and MNA criteria, was 12.9% and 19.6%, respectively. The highest sarcopenia diagnosis rate was observed when using the Ishii criteria (49.1%), followed by SARC-CalF (42.4%), AWGS 2019 (39.3%), and SARC-F (33.5%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was highest in the ≥80 age group. Chronic energy deficiency, low physical activity levels, and malnutrition based on MNA were statistically significantly associated with sarcopenia (p<0.05). Conclusion: Sarcopenia is common among the elderly and increases rapidly with age. Malnutrition, chronic energy deficiency, and low levels physical of activity are key factors associated with sarcopenia. Enhancing screening for early detection and implementing nutritional interventions, and physical activity promotion are essential to reducing the risk of sarcopenia in this population.