Life-course adversity, adult socioeconomic position and possible sarcopenia in older Vietnamese adults
In 2,166 adults aged 59 and older in postwar Vietnam, possible sarcopenia defined by grip strength was common (46.86%); higher adult household assets, education and non-agricultural occupations were associated with lower odds, while wartime stress and military service were not significant in fully adjusted models. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The analysis included 2,166 adults aged 59 and older from Wave 1 of the Vietnam Health and Aging Study, with possible sarcopenia defined by 2019 grip-strength thresholds. [1]
Possible sarcopenia prevalence was 46.86%, and wartime stress exposure and military service were not significant in fully adjusted models. [1]
Higher household assets, secondary education or higher, professional occupations and other non-agricultural occupations were associated with lower odds of possible sarcopenia. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional survey analysis with survey-adjusted logistic regression (abstract).
- Population / context
- 2,166 adults aged 59 and older in postwar Vietnam (Wave 1, Vietnam Health and Aging Study).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 21, 2026
Grip-strength sarcopenia in older Vietnamese adults
The study asked how early-life hardship, wartime exposure, military service and adult socioeconomic position relate to possible sarcopenia in older adults in postwar Vietnam. It used Wave 1 of the Vietnam Health and Aging Study, covering 2,166 adults aged 59 and older. Possible sarcopenia was defined with the 2019 grip-strength thresholds of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, and survey-adjusted logistic regression models were used.
Supporting source [1]
Adult resources linked to lower odds; war exposures not
Possible sarcopenia prevalence was 46.86%. Childhood hunger and poor childhood health showed only limited associations. Wartime stress exposure and military service were not significant in fully adjusted models. Lower odds were associated with higher household assets (odds ratio 0.91), secondary education or higher (0.56), professional occupations (0.60) and other non-agricultural occupations (0.70). These are associations, not evidence that these factors cause or prevent sarcopenia.
Supporting source [1]
Social patterning of later-life vulnerability in Vietnam
The authors conclude that possible sarcopenia in Vietnam reflects not only age-related muscle decline but also the social patterning of later-life vulnerability through adult socioeconomic resources. The abstract does not report follow-up duration, how wartime exposure was measured, or the full model details, so the size and meaning of the estimates cannot be checked further here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report follow-up duration, details of exposure measurement or full model specifications, and the reported associations do not establish causation.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Ahmed S, Korinek K. · europepmc.org · September 21, 2026