Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia and dynapenia in elderly people

Objectives

There is little information about the risk factors for sarcopenia and dynapenia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia and dynapenia and to verify which risk factors are associated with the elderly population.

Methods

A total of 387 elderly people were evaluated. We used a questionnaire to identify socio-demographic and behavioral aspects. For physical performance, we used the Short Physical Performance Battery. Using the European Working Group of Sarcopenia in Older People consensus, we defined sarcopenia that includes the occurrence of low muscle mass, added to low muscle strength or low physical performance. Dynapenia was defined using handgrip strength.

Results

Sarcopenia and dynapenia were identified in 15.3% and 38.2% of the elderly people, respectively; 15.8% of women and 14.2% of men had sarcopenia, and 52.4% of women and 13.5% of men had dynapenia. Sarcopenia was associated with the increase in aging, white race, smoking, and risk of malnutrition. Dynapenia is more likely to occur in women and hospitalized patients.

Conclusion

Sarcopenia had a greater association with the risk factors evaluated here, mainly with smoking and nutritional status. On the other hand, dynapenia was different, having a greater association with hospital intervention.

Correlation between muscle mass, nutritional status and physical performance of elderly people

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the relationship between the skeletal muscle mass (SMM), obtained by predictive equations, and the body composition, nutritional aspects, functionality and physical performance in elderly people.

METHODS

The sample consisted of adults aged 65 years or over from the cross-sectional study of the Brazilian Elderly Frailty Study Network, in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The anthropometric parameters, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and handgrip strength (HGS) were evaluated. The SMM was estimated by 2 predictive anthropometric equations.

RESULTS

Both SMM equations correlated with age, anthropometric indices, SPPB, IADL, and HGS. However, only HGS and neck circumference strongly correlated in both equations, being higher in SMM II.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that both equations are sensitive to obtain the SMM, contributing to the diagnosis of sarcopenia, nutritional status, and a physical performance condition.

Oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, or total distance: a comparison of methods to equalize exercise volume in Wistar rats

This study compared strategies to equalize the volume of aerobic exercise performed with different intensities by Wistar rats, based on the distance covered during exercise bouts and energy expenditure (EE, isocaloric sessions) obtained from oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) or respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Thirty-three male rats (270.5±12.8 g) underwent maximal exercise tests to determine V̇O₂ reserve (V̇O₂R), being randomly assigned to three groups: moderate-intensity continuous exercise at speed corresponding to 50% V̇O₂R (MIC; n=11); high-intensity continuous exercise at 80% V̇O₂R (HIC; n=11); and high-intensity intermittent exercise (HII; n=11) at 60% V̇O₂R (3 min) and 80% V̇O₂R (4 min). Exercise duration was calculated individually to elicit EE of 5 kcal in each session. No difference between groups was found for total running distance (MIC: 801±46, HIC: 734±42, HII: 885±64 m; P=0.13). Total EE measured by RER was systematically underestimated compared to values obtained from V̇O₂ (HII: 4.5% and MIC: 6.2%, P<0.05). Total EE (calculated from V̇O₂), and duration of HIC bouts (2.8 kcal and 30.8±2.2 min) were lower (P<0.0001) than in MIC (4.9 kcal and 64.7±1.8 min) and HII (4.7 kcal and 46.9±2.2 min). Predicted and actual values of total V̇O₂, total EE, and duration of isocaloric sessions were similar in MIC and HII (P>0.05), which were both higher than in HIC (P<0.0001). In conclusion, the time to achieve a given EE in exercise bouts with different intensities did not correspond to the total distance. Therefore, the volume of aerobic exercise in protocols involving Wistar rats should be equalized using EE rather than total covered distance.

Low-dose estradiol and endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers in menopausal overweight/obese women

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose transdermal estrogen on endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers in menopausal overweight/obese women.

METHODS

We recruited 44 menopausal women (47-55 years; body mass index 27.5-34.9 kg/m(2)) and divided them into estradiol (1 mg/day; n = 22) or placebo groups (n = 22). They were double-blinded, followed and treated for 3 months. At baseline and post-intervention, inflammatory biomarkers (hs-CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α) and of vascular injury (activated circulating endothelial cells, CEC-a) and repair (endothelial progenitor cells, EPC) were quantified. Resting CECs (CEC-r) were also assessed. Microvascular reactivity and vasomotion were analyzed by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

RESULTS

Volunteers (51.8 ± 2.3 years; mean body mass index 31.5 ± 2.5 kg/m(2)) had been menopausal for 3 (range 2-5) years. After treatment, no changes were observed in the placebo group, while levels of CEC-r and EPC increased in the estradiol group. In this group, no changes in inflammatory biomarkers were observed but it required a lower cumulative dose of acetylcholine to achieve peak velocity during endothelial-dependent vasodilatation and there was increased endothelial-independent vasodilatation.

CONCLUSIONS

The short-term use of low-dose transdermal estradiol therapy in overweight/obese menopausal women increased markers of vascular repair and improved microvascular reactivity without changing the inflammatory biomarkers.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01295892 at www.clinicaltrials.gov .