ABSTRACT
Our study aimed to identify the factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults in the community. This is a correlational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted with 234 older people. We used the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) to assess sarcopenia and collected the following data: sociodemographic and health questionnaire to characterize older adults; geriatric depression scale, Addenbrooke’s cognitive exam - revised, international physical activity questionnaire long version and the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey. Most participants were women (n=151; 68.30%), white (n=163; 73.80%), overweight, according to the body mass index - BMI (n=124; 56.10%) and 24.90% (n=55) of them presented sarcopenia, according to the criteria of the European Consensus. The following factors were associated with sarcopenia: age (OR=1.06; p=0.010), BMI<22kg/m2 (OR=5.82; p=0.003), being insufficiently physically active (OR=3.29; p=0.002) and reports of falls (OR=2.20; p=0.033). Older people, with low weight, according to BMI, insufficiently physically active and that suffered falls are more likely to have sarcopenia.
Keywords:
Sarcopenia; Aged; Aging