A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the short-, middle-, and long-term health outcomes of sarcopenia. The study included 17 prospective studies that used the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition to diagnose sarcopenia. The results showed that sarcopenia is associated with increased mortality, functional decline, falls, and hospitalization. The pooled odds ratio for mortality was 3.596 (95% CI 2.96–4.37), indicating a significantly higher risk of mortality among sarcopenic individuals compared to non-sarcopenic ones. The effect was more pronounced in individuals aged 79 years or older. Sarcopenia was also linked to functional decline, with a pooled odds ratio of 3.03 (95% CI 1.80–5.12). The risk of falls was significantly higher in sarcopenic individuals, and the incidence of hospitalization was also increased. However, the impact of sarcopenia on fracture incidence and hospital stay duration was less clear. The study concluded that sarcopenia is associated with several harmful outcomes, making it a significant public health issue. The findings highlight the importance of early detection and intervention to mitigate the negative effects of sarcopenia on health outcomes.A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the short-, middle-, and long-term health outcomes of sarcopenia. The study included 17 prospective studies that used the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition to diagnose sarcopenia. The results showed that sarcopenia is associated with increased mortality, functional decline, falls, and hospitalization. The pooled odds ratio for mortality was 3.596 (95% CI 2.96–4.37), indicating a significantly higher risk of mortality among sarcopenic individuals compared to non-sarcopenic ones. The effect was more pronounced in individuals aged 79 years or older. Sarcopenia was also linked to functional decline, with a pooled odds ratio of 3.03 (95% CI 1.80–5.12). The risk of falls was significantly higher in sarcopenic individuals, and the incidence of hospitalization was also increased. However, the impact of sarcopenia on fracture incidence and hospital stay duration was less clear. The study concluded that sarcopenia is associated with several harmful outcomes, making it a significant public health issue. The findings highlight the importance of early detection and intervention to mitigate the negative effects of sarcopenia on health outcomes.