[Sarcopenic obesity and physical fitness in octogenarians: the multi-center EXERNET Project]

The aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of different fitness test to detect the risk of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in octogenarian people.

306 subjects (76 men, 230 women) with a mean age of 82.5 ± 2.3 years from the Multi-center EXERNET Project sample fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Body composition was assessed in all subjects by bioelectrical impedance. Four groups were created based on the percentage of fat mass and muscle mass: 1) normal, 2) high fat mass, 3) low muscle mass and 4) SO. Physical fitness was assessed using 8 different tests modified from the batteries “Senior Fitness Test” and Eurofit (EXERNET battery). The risk of suffering SO depending on the fitness level was studied by logistic regression.

Among the studied physical fitness tests, those that better predicted the risk of SO were leg strength, arm strength, agility, walking speed and balance in men; 95% CI [(0.606-0.957) (0.496-0.882), (0.020-2.014), (0.17-1.39), (0.913-1.002), all p < 0.05, except balance test (p = 0.07)] and balance test and agility in women; (95% CI [(0.928-1.002) (0.983-1.408), (both p = 0.07)].

Adequate levels of physical fitness are associated with a lower risk of SO. Some easy fitness tests seem to be useful for the detection of SO in those cases where the body-composition required methods for diagnosis are not available.