Community-based management plan for sarcopenia in older adults

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, which significantly increases the risk of falls and disability among older adults and severely impairs quality of life. In China, primary healthcare institutions have relatively limited experience in the recognition and management of sarcopenia, and standardized management strategies remain lacking. As the frontline of sarcopenia prevention and control, primary care settings require practical and evidence-based management protocols. This program was led by the Yuetan Community Health Service Center in Beijing and developed based on the latest domestic and international consensus and guidelines. It was formulated through repeated discussions by a multidisciplinary expert team including general practitioners, geriatricians, nutritionists, and rehabilitation specialists. It aims to provide systematic guidance for primary healthcare workers. The program identified adults aged 65 years and older as the primary management population and follows the principles of "prevention first, combining prevention and treatment" and "personalized intervention". A multidisciplinary collaborative model is established, with general practitioners at the core coordinators and support from nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and nutritionists. Emphasized health education and public awareness through both online and offline chan-nels. Early screening is conducted using calf circumference, SARC-CalF questionnaire, and handgrip strength testing, followed by comprehensive assessment and diagnosis based on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Interventions focus on nutrition and exercise, recommending a daily protein intake of ≥1.2 g/kg body weight with appropriate vitamin D supplementation, combined with resistance and aerobic exercise to develop individualized exercise prescriptions. Referral criteria and follow-up mechanisms are also clearly defined. The goal is to standardize community-based sarcopenia management procedures, improve muscle function in older adults, and achieve evidence-based prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.