Ricardo Aurélio Carvalho Sampaio1, Priscila Yukari Sewo Sampaio2, Luz Albany Arcila Castaño3, João Francisco Barbieri4, Hélio José Coelho5, Hidenori Arai6, Marco Carlos Uchida7, Gustavo Luis Gutierrez8. 1. PhD. Physical Educator, Applied Kinesiology Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 2. PhD. Occupational Therapist and Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), Lagarto (SE), Brazil. 3. Physical Educator, Department of Sports Science and Recreation, Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia. 4. Physical Educator and Master's Student, School of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 5. MSc. Physical Educator and Doctoral Student, Applied Kinesiology Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 6. MD, PhD. Deputy Director, Kokuritsu Choju Iryo Kenkyu Center Kenkyujo (NCGG), Obu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. 7. PhD. Associate Professor and Head of Applied Kinesiology Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 8. PhD. Professor, School of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia is an emerging public health issue in Brazil. Because of its high prevalence and the lack of national data, the objective here was to identify cutoff points for appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) and handgrip strength in relation to fear of falling among Brazilian older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study; in the community. METHODS: Participants underwent morphological and functional evaluations; and were asked about previous falls and fear of falling. Different adjustments to ASM and handgrip strength were used. Slow walking speed was defined as < 0.8 m/s or 1.0 m/s. Gender and age groups were compared using t tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify cutoffs for ASM and handgrip strength in relation to fear of falling. RESULTS: 578 older adults participated in this study. Function levels decreased with increasing age, and body composition differed between the sexes. In relation to fear of falling, the cutoffs for ASM adjusted for body mass index (BMI) were < 0.85 for men and < 0.53 for women; the cutoffs for absolute handgrip strength and relative handgrip strength (adjusted for BMI) were 30.0 kgf and 21.7 kgf, and 1.07 and 0.66, for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The values presented can be used as references in clinical practice and research. We recommend use of ASM adjusted for BMI and choosing between absolute and relative handgrip strength for men and women, according to study needs.
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:Sarcopenia is an emerging public health issue in Brazil. Because of its high prevalence and the lack of national data, the objective here was to identify cutoff points for appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) and handgrip strength in relation to fear of falling among Brazilian older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study; in the community. METHODS:Participants underwent morphological and functional evaluations; and were asked about previous falls and fear of falling. Different adjustments to ASM and handgrip strength were used. Slow walking speed was defined as < 0.8 m/s or 1.0 m/s. Gender and age groups were compared using t tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify cutoffs for ASM and handgrip strength in relation to fear of falling. RESULTS: 578 older adults participated in this study. Function levels decreased with increasing age, and body composition differed between the sexes. In relation to fear of falling, the cutoffs for ASM adjusted for body mass index (BMI) were < 0.85 for men and < 0.53 for women; the cutoffs for absolute handgrip strength and relative handgrip strength (adjusted for BMI) were 30.0 kgf and 21.7 kgf, and 1.07 and 0.66, for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The values presented can be used as references in clinical practice and research. We recommend use of ASM adjusted for BMI and choosing between absolute and relative handgrip strength for men and women, according to study needs.