Nutritional status and dynapenia in people living with Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and handgrip strength (HS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

This is a cross-sectional study with outpatients in two treatment centers in the state of Pernambuco. Sociodemographic data, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and calf circumference (CC) were collected. Body fat (BF) was assessed using electrical bioimpedance. Dynapenia was assessed using HS and dynapenic obesity was defined as very high WC associated with low HS. The Hoehn-Yahr scale was used for the staging of PD and the disease's severity was assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).

The results showed that 77.2% were elderly, which were at II and III stages of UPDRS scale. Overweight and obesity were present in 44.3% and 27.8%. Dynapenia was found in 50.6%. A negative correlation was observed between HS with age, UPDRS II and III, and BF percentage. Dynapenic obesity in men was lower 37.5% compared to women 63.6%.

It is relevant to identify the functional capacity such as dynapenia and also the nutritional status in people living with neurodegenerative diseases of early onset, such as PD, so it is possible to develop strategies in prevention and treatment that can improve these conditions, considering its negative impact in PD.