As part of its strategic plan to develop enhanced healthcare programmes and services for older adults in Qatar, the Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has established the first Sarcopenia Clinic in Rumailah Hospital.
Sarcopenia is a muscle disease that describes the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and physical function. While all people begin to lose some muscle mass after the age of 40, this process is accelerated as people get older, particularly if ill-health and lifestyle practices affect their physical fitness. Experts around the world have agreed that Sarcopenia is a strong predictor of many adverse health outcomes, such as frailty, falls and fractures and mortality.
Dr Hanadi Al Hamad, Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital, and the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (where she is also the Acting CEO) and Chairperson of the Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care, said that early screening and treatment of sarcopenia is hugely important in helping older patients regain strength and improve their quality of life.
"Sarcopenia is often associated with increased risk for disability in older adults, that can lead to more hospitalisation and loss of independence. The good thing is that Sarcopenia can be treated, and with the right treatment plan, patient can improve their condition, allowing them to regain muscle strength, balance, and fitness. This is what we aim to achieve with our Sarcopenia Clinic the first of its kind in the region to diagnose and treat the individual and accompany them on their personal recovery journey," said Dr Al Hamad.
This unique clinic is part of the vision of Dr Al Hamad, who, as the Qatar National Health Strategy Lead for Healthy Ageing, is committed to developing systems and programmes of care designed to support people as they age to live better.
"The establishment of this clinic has been part of a year-long research effort to assess the best practices from around the world and develop a robust programme that will enable us to implement tried and tested screening tools and offer appropriate treatment options tailored to each patients needs. In the first phase we are mainly taking referrals through our Geriatric Department and physicians across HMC that recommend their patient to our clinic. As we expand our services, we will work closely with other healthcare providers, particularly our Primary Health Care colleagues, to ensure that potential Sarcopenia patients are referred for assessment and care as quickly as possible," added Dr Al Hamad.
Sarcopenia and frailty are highly prevalent conditions in older hospitalised patients and is associated with longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, greater risk of hospital readmission and mortality. Sarcopenia is common among adults of older age but can also occur earlier in life, especially in patients with mobility issues and who may be bedridden for longer periods.
