PNF and Movement · Aug 31, 2026
Association Between Depressive Disorder and Sarcopenia Among Older Adults in Korea
By Kim YJ, Kim TH, Kim MK
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association between depressive disorder and sarcopenia among older adults in Korea and to identify related general and lifestyle factors.Methods: A total of 1,554 individuals aged 65 years and older from the 2024 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analysis.Depressive disorder was defined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) with a cut-off score of ≥10, and sarcopenia was defined based on handgrip strength and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).Complex sample analyses were conducted using sampling weights, stratification, and clustering variables.Group differences were analyzed using complex sample general linear models and chi-square tests, and the association between depressive disorder and sarcopenia was examined using multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: Depressive disorder was significantly associated with sarcopenia and BMI, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was approximately 2.3 times higher in individuals with depressive disorder.Conversely, the prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately two times higher in the sarcopenia group.Logistic regression analysis showed that depressive disorder was associated with a 2.45-fold increased likelihood of sarcopenia (p < .05).This association was not significant after adjusting for age and BMI but became significant after adjusting for smoking and alcohol consumption.Conclusion: Depressive disorder and sarcopenia were found to have a significant bidirectional association among older adults in Korea.These findings suggest that a multidimensional, patient-centered approach incorporating lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol use is necessary for the prevention and management of sarcopenia.