Osteosarcopenia: a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures

Age-related sarcopenia is a condition which typically shows a decline in muscle mass and strength due to multifactorial causes. Bones and muscles are two interrelated tissues. The mechanical forces applied on bones are those derived from muscle contraction, conditioning bone properties, such as mass, size, shape and architecture. Therefore, the decline of muscle mass and strength would lead to a decrease in bone quality and quantity resulting in bone frailty. For this reason, sarcopenia is a condition that increases the risk of suffering falls and fractures in older adults. Currently, osteosarcopenia is the term used to identify those older adults with a greater risk of fractures due to bone frailty; however, a consensus of the medical community is needed for developing diagnostic criteria which makes it possible to identify patients with a high risk of developing osteoporotic fractures, to perform adequate therapeutic interventions and to improve the quality of life of older adults.