Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital expand partnership to advance early detection of muscle loss and support healthy aging

• The expanded three-year collaboration will integrate muscle health screenings into hospital and community settings, train healthcare professionals, and increase public education
• Since launching in 2023, the partnership has trained nearly 300 healthcare professionals to assess muscle health and support earlier intervention

SINGAPORE, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) today announced a new three-year collaboration to expand muscle health screening, training and public education efforts across Singapore. The initiative aims to help more people identify and address age-related muscle loss before it affects strength, mobility and independence.

Leaders from Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital officially exchange signed documents during the MOU renewal ceremony last month, solidifying a renewed commitment to advancing muscle health in Singapore.

The collaboration builds on a partnership established in 2023 that has trained nearly 300 healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists and dietitians, to assess muscle health and support earlier intervention.

Muscle health is fundamental to healthy aging. Adults can lose up to 8% of their muscle mass per decade from age 40, with the rate accelerating after age 70. In Singapore, one in three adults aged 60 and above is affected by sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength and function, which can increase the risk of frailty, falls, and fractures.^[i]

Building on its foundation of awareness and professional education, the expanded partnership will focus on three key areas:

• Professional capacity building: More healthcare professionals will be trained to identify individuals at risk of muscle loss, conduct muscle health assessments and support earlier intervention when needed. Healthcare professionals will be equipped with Abbott’s Asian reference Muscle Health Chart, developed using reference values from Asian populations, to help individuals better understand and monitor their muscle health according to their age and gender.
• Screening and early identification: Muscle health screening will be integrated into hospital and community settings. Assessments will include simple, evidence-based measures such as handgrip strength and sit-to-stand tests, helping identify individuals who may be at risk of muscle loss and could benefit from earlier intervention.
• Public education and prevention:  Community education efforts will be expanded to increase awareness of muscle health and empower individuals to take proactive steps to support muscle health through regular assessment, good nutrition and resistance exercise.

"Muscle loss is one of the most under-recognized threats to healthy aging, and yet it is largely preventable with the right knowledge and action," said Dr. Frederick Koh, Deputy Director, Research and Clinician Lead, Sengkang General Hospital. "Through our PRIME initiative (Promoting Muscle Health through Empowerment), we have been working since 2023 to change that by training healthcare professionals, reaching communities, and building the evidence base for muscle health care in Singapore. This next phase takes us further by bringing screening directly into hospital and community settings, so we can identify those at risk earlier and step in before significant decline occurs."

"Muscle health plays a critical role in helping people maintain strength, mobility and independence as they age," said Dr. Low Yen Ling, senior director of international nutrition science and global research & innovation, Abbott. "Through research, education and practical tools, Abbott has worked with healthcare professionals and communities to advance earlier identification of muscle loss. Together with SKH, we hope to encourage more people to take proactive steps through good nutrition and resistance exercise to support healthy aging."

Individuals concerned about muscle health should speak with their healthcare professional about assessment and prevention strategies. They can also visit stand4strength.sg to learn more about muscle health and take a simple test to check whether they may be at risk of muscle loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the next phase of Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital’s partnership?

Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital are expanding their partnership to support earlier identification of muscle loss through training, muscle health screening and public education initiatives.

Why is muscle health important?

Muscle health is fundamental to healthy aging. Adults can lose up to 8% of their muscle mass per decade from age 40, with the rate accelerating after age 70. In Singapore, one in three adults aged 60 and above is affected by sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength and function, which can increase the risk of frailty, falls, and fractures. ^[ii]

How will Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital achieve their partnership goals?

• Training healthcare professionals to identify individuals at risk of muscle loss, conducting muscle health assessments and supporting timely intervention
• Integrating muscle health screening into hospital and community settings
• Expanding community education efforts to increase awareness of muscle health and empowering individuals to take preventive action through regular assessment, good nutrition and resistance exercise

How can individuals take action to support their muscle health?

Individuals concerned about muscle health should speak with their healthcare professional about assessment and prevention strategies. They can also visit stand4strength.sg to learn more about muscle health and take a simple test to check whether they may be at risk of muscle loss.

About Sengkang General Hospital

Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) plays a vital role in providing quality and accessible care to better serve the healthcare needs in North-Eastern Singapore. Offering a wide spectrum of specialist clinics and co-located with Sengkang Community Hospital, we are a part of the integrated hospital campus delivering multi-disciplinary and patient-centric care covering all major healthcare disciplines.

Reflecting on our mission of achieving better health together, SKH’s team of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals practice multi-disciplinary and team-based care. Patients who need longer-term rehabilitative care can be seamlessly transferred from the general hospital to the community hospital to receive the appropriate care during their recovery. We also work together with polyclinics, general practitioners, and other healthcare providers to ensure timely and appropriate access to specialist care for acute and complex cases.

Enabling residents in the northeast access to national specialty services nearer their homes, SKH has collaborated with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National Cancer Centre Singapore, National Dental Centre Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, and Singapore National Eye Centre, to set up satellite clinics within the hospital’s Medical Centre. For more information, visit https://www.skh.com.sg/.

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About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader helping people live more fully at every stage of life. Our life-changing technologies span the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition, and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

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