Housing is an important social determinant of health. However, limited studies have focused on the relationship between housing quality and sarcopenia, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to examine the association between housing quality and sarcopenia in older adults in China and India.

The study was based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and Longitudinal Aging Study in India. Housing quality was evaluated by five indicators, including housing materials, water sources, sanitation facilities, main fuel for cooking, and availability of electricity. Housing quality is divided into three types: good (0–1 poor housing indicators), medium (2–3 poor housing indicators), and poor (4–5 poor housing indicators). Sarcopenia was evaluated according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 Consensus. The logistic regression model was performed to examine the association between housing quality and sarcopenia.

The medium (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.49−1.90) and poor housing quality (OR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.89−2.54) were associated with sarcopenia in CHARLS. Similar results were also observed in the LASI with significantly higher prevalence of sarcopenia in medium (OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.11–1.33), and poor housing quality (OR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.43−1.79). Moreover, we observed a linear relationship between housing quality and the prevalence of sarcopenia both in CHARLS and LASI (all P for trend <0.001).

Poorer housing quality was associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults in China and India. Housing quality improvement plans such as access to tap water, promotion of clean energy may have a positive effect on reducing the prevalence of sarcopenia.