ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND APPENDICULAR MUSCLE MASS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Aging; Bioimpedance; Handgrip strength; Chair stand test; Health-related quality of life.
Introduction: Neuromuscular alterations are observed with age, including body composition and muscle strength. Reduction of appendicular muscle mass (AMM) and muscle strength are related to adverse events in older adults health. However, relation between AMM and muscle strengh of lower and upper limbs with quality of life (QoL) of older adults is not sufficiently understood. Objectives: Evaluate the relation between AMM and muscle strength of lower and upper limbs with QoL of older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study composed by 399 older adults with 60 to 80 years old community-dwelling. AMM was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance. Muscle strength was evaluated by test of hand grip strength (HGS; upper limbs) and sit-to-stand test in 30 seconds (SST; lower limbs). Data lower than 25 percentiles of AMM, HGS and SST by gender were considerate “low AMM” and “low muscle strength”. QoL was evaluated by WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (general and specifics aspects: Phisical, Psychological, Social, Environmental). General and specifics aspects scores of QoL such as “needs to improve” and “regular” were grouped for multivariate analysis. Results: There was positive correlation between AMM by Pshycological and Social aspects of QoL (r = 0,105-0,121; p < 0,05). There was no correlation between HGS by QoL (p > 0,05). SST was correlated positivily with all the aspects of QoL (r = 0,175-0,343; p < 0,05). Low AMM was related to low QoL in Psychological aspect (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1,30, IC 95% 1,12–1,52). Low muscle strength and HGS were associated to low general QoL (PR: 1,09, IC 95% 1,01–1,17). Low muscle strength and SST were associated to low general QoL (PR: 1,20, IC 95% 1,05–1,39), physical aspect (PR: 1,34, IC 95% 1,10–1,63), psychological (PR: 1,34, IC 95% 1,10–1,63) and environmental (PR: 1,12, IC 95% 1,00–1,24). Conclusion: Muscle strength, lower limbs mainly, is related to quality of life in older adults community-dwelling but not with appendicular muscle mass.