The Singapore Family Physician
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Vol 51 No. 3 - Muscles Matter: Uncovering the Role of Muscles in Health and Disease
Singapore Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sarcopenia: Screening, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention
The Singapore Family Physician
Vol 51
No 3
- Muscles Matter: Uncovering the Role of Muscles in Health and Disease
6
- 14
7 March 2025
0377-5305
Sarcopenia refers to the age-associated progressive and generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass plus loss of muscle strength and/or reduced physical performance. Despite its importance, sarcopenia often remains unrecognised and inadequately managed in routine clinical care. A workgroup was convened by the Chapter of Geriatricians and the Society for Geriatric Medicine Singapore to develop the first-ever country-specific Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for sarcopenia. The workgroup developed 20 evidence-based recommendations that aim to facilitate adoption of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 consensus into current practice in Singapore. The CPG recommends a casefinding approach in at-risk older adults using validated
case-finding tools. Screen-positive individuals should be assessed for “possible sarcopenia” and underlying causes. For diagnosis, the CPG recommends using
the AWGS 2019 algorithm, and, when necessary, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to determine low lean mass for a confirmatory diagnosis of sarcopenia. For treatment, the CPG recommends resistance exercises and a quality protein-rich diet/protein supplementation, with Vitamin D supplementation for insufficiency (<30 μg/L). For prevention, the CPG recommends regular resistance-based physical activity and adequate protein intake (≥1.0 g/kg body weight). We encourage more research to address local evidence gaps. With increasing interest in muscle health and sarcopenia, this CPG provides evidence-based consensus recommendations for sarcopenia that will play a key role in the translation into current practice in Singapore.