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. 2025 Jul 17:12:1536848.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1536848. eCollection 2025.

Indonesian optimal sarcopenia cutoff values of calf circumference, muscle strength, and physical performance: a multicenter descriptive and cross-sectional study

Siti Setiati  1 , Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman  2   3 , Samuel Teong Huang Chew  4   5   6 , Nina Kemala Sari  1 , Kuntjoro Harimurti  1 , Purwita Wijaya Laksmi  1 , I Gusti Putu Suka Aryana  7 , Sri Sunarti  8 , Noto Dwimartutie  1 , Ika Fitriana  1 , Anastasia Asylia Dinakrisma  1 , Muhammad Khifzhon Azwar  1 , Roza Mulyana  9 , Dina Aprillia Ariestine  10   11 , Wiwit Agung Sri Nur Cahyawati  12   13 , Lazuardhi Dwipa  14 , Fatichati Budiningsih  15 , Agus Sudarso  16 , Mala Hayati  17 , Chacha Marisa Isfandiari  18 , Muhammad Darma Muda Setia  18 , Rahmi Istanti  19
Affiliations

Indonesian optimal sarcopenia cutoff values of calf circumference, muscle strength, and physical performance: a multicenter descriptive and cross-sectional study

Siti Setiati et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of possible sarcopenia among Indonesian older adults using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 consensus cutoffs was abnormally high compared with reported prevalence in other East Asian countries. This suggests that the current AWGS cutoff values may not be applicable to the Indonesian population as it did not contain reference statistical values based on the local population normative studies. This lack of local data may result in inaccurate assessments and diagnoses of sarcopenia among Indonesian population. We therefore aimed to conduct a nationwide study in the community to obtain optimal cutoff values for calf circumference, muscle strength, and physical performance for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in Indonesia.

Methods: In this multicenter descriptive and cross-sectional study, we collected data from healthy adults aged 20-39 years in different islands in Indonesia. We followed the recommendation by the European Working Group for Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) of using 2 standard deviations [SD] below the mean of a young healthy cohort for the new cutoff points of sex-specific handgrip strength, calf circumference, and gait speed. The mean +2 SD was used for five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTST).

Results: The mean -2 SD value of male handgrip strength was 21.15 kg, and 14.34 kg for female subjects. The mean -2 SD value of male and female calf circumferences were 29.92 cm, and 26.70 cm, respectively. Two SD below the mean of gait speed results was 0.51 s, whereas 2 SD above mean of FTSTST results was 11.69 s.

Discussion: The suggested cutoff values for low calf circumference, muscle strength, and gait speed in Indonesian population are different from those in previous consensuses. Body morphology, culture, and obesity may be the factors related to this phenomenon. This study contributes to the body of literature of normative data used to determine cutoff values used in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in Indonesian and Asian populations.

Keywords: Indonesia; muscle strength; physical functional performance; sarcopenia; walking speed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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