First Sarcopenia Clinic opens in Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has taken a significant step in its strategic plan to provide superior healthcare services and programs for the elderly in Qatar by establishing the first Sarcopenia Clinic at Rumailah Hospital. Sarcopenia is a condition that involves age-related reduction in skeletal muscle mass and physical function, causing loss of muscle strength and balance, as well as increased risks of falls and fractures, frailty, and mortality. Although people lose muscle mass after the age of 40, the process is accelerated as they get older, particularly with illness and poor lifestyle practices.

Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, the Chairperson of the Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care and Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to help patients recover their strength and enhance their quality of life. The Sarcopenia Clinic, the first of its kind in the region, will screen, diagnose, and provide patients with personalized recovery plans to enable them to regain muscle strength, balance, and fitness, thereby reducing their risk of disability, hospitalization, and loss of independence.