Sarcopenia e incapacidade funcional em idosos de Cuiabá - Mato Grosso

Abstract

Introduction: Loss of muscle mass and strength are inevitable consequences of aging and may progress to sarcopenia which, in turn, may compromise the functional aspects of physical performance. However, there is no consensus among researchers and professionals regarding the criteria for diagnosing and estimating the prevalence of sarcopenia. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with the physical ability of elderly people in Cuiabá-MT. Methods: Cross sectional, observational and household study, involving urban population of Cuiabá-MT of both genders and aged ≥ 65 years. A questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic data and health status. The functional capacity to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was assessed by the Lawton Scale. For physical assessment was performed measures of body weight and height to obtain the body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), muscle mass (MM) was identified from predictive equation. Sarcopenia was defined as the combination of three components: body mass index (IMM), identified by the ratio between the values of MM and height squared (kg/m2), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used as a measure of physical performance and muscle strength was assessed by handgrip strength (FPM) using palmar dynamometer. We evaluated gait speed (m/s). Analyses were made by normality test of Shapiro Wilk, calculated the relative and absolute frequencies, Mann-Whitney test between two groups and Spearman's correlation, adopting significance of p ≤ 0.05. Results: We interviewed 513 elderly and 391 participants completed all the steps; 63.9% were female and most were aged between 70 and 79 years (48.3%). Were identified as sarcopenic 35.6% of the total sample and 49.6% were unable to IADL. The prevalence of sarcopenia increased significantly with age in both sexes (p ≤ 0.05). The prevalence of disability estimated by the AIVD in sarcopenic individuals increased with age: 65-69 years = 7.4%, ≥ 80 years = 31.5%. The IMM was positively correlated with the handgrip (r = 0.492, p <0.001), with walking speed (r = 0.218, p <0.001) and negatively with the TUG (r = -0.116, p <0.005). It was also observed correlation between TUG and HS (r = -0.399, p <0.001) and between HS and walking speed (r = 0.474, p <0.001). Sarcopenic were significantly older than non-sarcopenic, in both sexes. Sarcopenic had handgrip, IMM and BMI means lower than non-sarcopenic (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia among the elderly community in the city of Cuiabá was high. The rate of sarcopenia increases with age and is associated with a decline in physical performance, especially mobility.