Older people admitted to hospital are vulnerable to adverse outcomes including prolonged length of stay, reduced mobility, admission to care homes. Cachexia, sarcopenia and inflammaging are age-related conditions associated with poor outcomes but are little characterised in older people admitted to hospital. The aim of this study was to describe in detail a cohort of hospitalised older people with focus on cachexia, sarcopenia, inflammaging and clinical outcomes.

CaSIO was a prospective, cohort study of hospitalised older women, with a follow-up time over 2 years. Participants were recruited from the Medicine for Older People wards at a university hospital in England. Detailed characterisation of cachexia, sarcopenia and the immune-endocrine axis occurred on admission, discharge and at 6 months post-discharge. Outcome data were collected on the length of hospital admission, discharge destination, and longer-term outcomes including functional status at six month follow-up. Mortality data were collected at 6, 12 and 24 months.

145 female participants (58% of eligible patients) were recruited and survived the admission with an average age 86 years; baseline characteristics are provided. 103 (71%) were re-assessed 6 months after discharge (18 (12%) had died; 24 (17%) were lost to follow up); mortality data was ascertained at 12 and 24 months.

This study has described cachexia, sarcopenia and inflammaging in relation to clinical outcomes in hospitalised older women with 6 month follow up and mortality data collected for 24 months. This will add to a greater understanding of these conditions within older people.