Prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East countries: a meta-analysis

This systematic review aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Middle Eastern countries. Methods A meta-analysis was conducted. A computerized systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS from inception to September 2025 was performed to capture all possible relevant titles. Inclusion criteria included all primary studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries on Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older. Results A total of 11 studies were included in the study. Random-effects meta-analysis of 11 studies indicated a pooled prevalence rate of sarcopenia among older adults in the Middle East was 35% (95% CI, 23 to 48, I 2 = 99.3%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). The Egger's regression test for detecting publication bias did not detect any evidence of publication bias in the sample of included studies. Conclusions This meta-analysis shows that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults in the Middle East is relatively high (35%), with a higher sarcopenia rate among women (28%) compared to men (26%). These findings highlight that sarcopenia is a significant public health concern requiring a national public health strategy to prevent its progression and associated complications.