METHODS OF EVALUATION, DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA, CUTOFF VALUES AND PREVALENCE OF SARCOPENIA IN WOMEN IN THE NORTHEAST BRAZIL
Aging; Sarcopenia; Skeletal Muscle; Muscle Strength; Gait; Walking Speed.
Introduction: "Sarcopenia" refers originally to muscle mass loss with aging. Although, the most current definitions associate sarcopenia not only with muscle mass reduction, but also with impairments in muscle function and strength. The International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) are the main scientific groups studying sarcopenia around the world. However, there are controversies regarding its diagnostic criteria and the studied population by these groups presents different realities of the present study population. Objectives: To Propose cutoff values for the components identified as diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia (muscle mass, handgrip strength and walking speed); to analyze the prevalence of sarcopenia using the 3 consensus with 2 different types of adjustments for muscle mass (RASM and SMI). Methods: This is a transversal observational study, composed by 671 women between 40 and 80 years old, divided in 3 groups (40 to 50 years, 51 to 60 and 61 to 80). Social-demographic and social-economical data, regular practice of physical exercise and anthropometric measurements were collected. Muscle mass, handgrip strength and walking speed were evaluated. In Statistical analysis, cutoff values of muscle mass, handgrip strength and walking speed were based from the lower 20th percentile of the sample. Results: The following cutoff values were identified: 5.97 kg/m² (muscle mass by RASM adjustment), 21.11% (muscle mass by SMI adjustment), 21.33 kgf (handgrip strength) and 0.80 m/s (walking speed). In the 40-50 age group, the lowest prevalence of sarcopenia was 2.40% (IWGS, RASM adjustment) and the highest was 6.70% (AWGS, RASM adjustment). In 51 to 60 age group, the lowest prevalence was 2.70% (IWGS, RASM adjustment) and the highest was 8.60% (EWGSOP, SMI adjustment and AWGS, SMI adjustment). In 61 to 80 age group, the lowest prevalence was 18.00% (IWGS, SMI adjustment) and the highest was 25.60% (EWGSOP, RASM and AWGS adjustment, RASM adjustment).