Current Status of Sarcopenia in Korea: A Focus on Korean Geripausal Women

Sarcopenia is defined as an age-associated decline in muscle mass and function caused by several etiologies and mechanisms. Muscle mass and function do not decrease concurrently, and a loss of muscle function may be more highly associated with adverse health outcomes. Despite the clinical significance of sarcopenia, no universally operational definition of sarcopenia or standardized intervention programs are currently available. Sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and obesity share several pathophysiological mechanisms, and a combination of these entities may lead to an increased risk of musculoskeletal, cardio-metabolic, and psychological morbidities especially in geripause populations. Treatment for sarcopenia is mainly nonpharmacological, however, various drugs are currently being developed. It is conceivable that sarcopenia is the next immediate clinical target in musculoskeletal science.