Objective:

To investigate the incidence and associated risk factors of postoperative sarcopenia in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, addressing a significant gap in existing research.

Key Findings:

• 81.23% of patients were identified as being at risk for postoperative sarcopenia (p < 0.05).
• Average sarcopenia score was 5.01 ± 1.61, indicating a moderate risk level.
• Significant differences were found in age, marital status, education, living arrangements, exercise habits, masticatory function, chronic diseases, albumin levels, and ADL scores (p < 0.05).
• Age, education levels, ADL scores, and masticatory function were identified as independent risk factors (p < 0.05).

Interpretation:

The study highlights the high incidence of postoperative sarcopenia in older adults after hip fracture surgery and identifies key modifiable risk factors that can inform targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• Retrospective design may introduce bias, particularly in self-reported data from the SARC-F questionnaire.
• Study conducted in a single location may limit generalizability.
• Exclusion of patients with certain conditions may affect the overall findings.

Conclusion:

Identifying risk factors for sarcopenia in older adults post-hip fracture surgery can guide clinical interventions to mitigate muscle loss.