Estado nutricional, sarcopenia e funcionalidade em idosas residentes na comunidade

Abstract

Introduction: One of the typical body changes of aging is the loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), which contributes to functional limitation as well as obesity, which is also one of the risk factors related to the development of diseases that limit functionality. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between functional capacity, sarcopenia and the nutritional status of the elderly in the community. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study performed with 100 elderly women over 60 years of age attending the physical therapy clinic of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (FACISA-UFRN). To collect data, a questionnaire containing identification information, socioeconomic data, physical activity practice, anthropometric data and body composition were applied. waist circumference, waist-height ratio, and muscle mass measured by bioimpedance) and functional data (six-minute walk test). Results: The mean age of the sample was 67 ± 8.0 years. Most of the elderly women did not practice physical activity (59%), had at least elementary school (38%), received up to two minimum wages (48%), and were obese. Prevalence rates for sarcopenia were: sarcopenia (5%), sarcopenia (14%), obesity (63%) and normal (18%). Active elderly, who studied more than elementary school through high school, with income between two and four salaries, and not obese had better performance in the walking test than the others. There were no statistically significant differences in the walk test according to income (p> 0.05). Non-obese and non-sarcopenic women walked more on the functional test than the others (p = 0.021). Conclusions: The elderly with low education, sedentary and with low socioeconomic level presented worse performance in the walking test. Obesity classified only by BMI showed no significance when compared to the walking test, while other forms of obesity measurement were significant. Obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were prevalent in the elderly and related to the worst physical performance, generating new demands for the health and social security systems.