GLIS
Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia
Context
Defining Sarcopenia
In the last two decades, many international groups have produced definitions of sarcopenia, incorporating the concept of reduced muscle function to that of low muscle mass usually associated with the term. These definitions have proved successful in advancing the field and introducing the term in the revised version of the International Classification of Diseases.
However, the lack of agreement between widely used definitions is now hindering the field, both in research and in the introduction of sarcopenia in usual clinical practice. Agreement on a common definition that may be used worldwide is needed to further advance the field and finally benefit patients.
About
An inclusive international initiative
GLIS is an international initiative whose major goal is to produce an inclusive definition of sarcopenia that can be widely accepted and disseminated by all current consensus groups: ANZSSFR, AWGS, EWGSOP and SDOC. The sarcopenic obesity consensus group has also joined.
Started in August 2021, the initiative has gradually grown into a steering committee of 21 members involving the four current definition groups and twelve participating associations.
What is GLIS doing?
The first step is to agree on the general concept of sarcopenia by defining its core elements through a modified Delphi process involving experts from different countries, specialties, and clinical/research/regulatory settings.
Clear, simple statements produced by the steering committee to allow experts to show their level of agreement
A formal pre-defined framework to define levels of agreement with statements
Participants able to propose new statements and add opinions
Results of several rounds of consensus written as a conceptual definition of sarcopenia
Supporting societies & organizations
14 international organizations
Aging in Motion (AIM) / AAR American Geriatrics Society (AGS) ASBMR Asian Association for Frailty and Sarcopenia (AAFS) ANZSSFR EASO EuGMS ESCEO ESPEN Gerontological Society of America (GSA) IAGG ICFSR International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) SCWD