Italian inter-societal manifesto for the prevention and therapy of sarcopenia: A way to raise awareness among institutions, the healthcare world and the population by: Ministry of Health, ADI (Italian Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition), SIGG (Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology), SIMFER (Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine), SINPE (Italian Society of Artificial Nutrition and Metabolism), SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), SINuc (Italian Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism), SIO (Italian Society of Obesity), SISA (Italian Society of Food Science), SISDCA (Italian Society for the study of Eating Disorders)

Abstract

Sarcopenia, a pathology that concerns the gradual reduction of muscle mass and strength, which entered the international classification of pathologies in 2016, is one of the most critical effects of aging (primary sarcopenia) and of some pathologies, such as oncological pathologies, lung diseases, malnutrition, and obesity (secondary sarcopenia). Going to evaluate the prevalence of the pathology, the scientific literature reports that are sarcopenic: 12-13 % of elderly living at home under 70 years of age, 24 % between 70 and 80, and up to 30-50 % of over 80; 35 % of elderly who access geriatric facilities, 15 % of subjects develop sarcopenia during hospitalization; 87 % of institutionalized elderly; 18 % of diabetic people; 20-70 % of cancer patients; 12-39 % of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 84 % of women and 100 % of men with grade II and III obesity. Given this background, Ministry of Health and the main Italian scientific societies of clinical nutrition, geriatrics and physiatry are signatories of the opinion paper entitled "Inter-society Italian Manifesto for the prevention and therapy of sarcopenia", which is presented in this paper. The manifesto's goal is to raise awareness on sarcopenia among the population, institutions and healthcare workers through various actions, in the form of a message, awareness poster and the establishment of the "National Sarcopenia Day" by the Ministry of Health. In this day, centers where sarcopenia is diagnosed and treated, such as geriatrics, rehabilitation, and clinical nutrition facilities, carry out free screening on the target population. As regards actions for healthcare workers, it is necessary to promote and support the training of general practitioners (GPs) and of staff working in healthcare and social healthcare facilities (such as nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and motor science operators so that they can recognize and adequately treat sarcopenia.

Keywords: Awareness; Healthcare workers; Institution; Sarcopenia.