Relationship between physical function and sarcopenia in the older adults from Amazonas: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Physical Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Physical functioning encompasses basic, instrumental, and advanced activities of daily living.
• Impaired physical functioning can be an indicator of potential sarcopenia in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare physical function between older adults with and without sarcopenia.
• To investigate the relationship between physical function tests and sarcopenia.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 312 older adults (≥60 years) in Northern Brazil (2018).
• Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria.
• Physical functioning was assessed via multiple functional fitness tests, including gait speed, chair stand, sit-and-reach, and balance scales.

Main Results:

• Confirmed sarcopenia was present in 29.2% of participants; no severe cases were found.
• Most physical function tests were significantly associated with sarcopenia (p < 0.05), excluding the back scratch test.
• Adjusted analyses revealed associations between sarcopenia and slower 4-meter gait speed, slower 8-foot up-and-go times, reduced flexibility (chair sit-and-reach), and poorer self-reported physical function.

Conclusions:

• Sarcopenia, as defined by EWGSOP2, is common in older Brazilians.
• Confirmed sarcopenia is independently associated with impaired walking speed, chair rising ability, flexibility, and self-reported physical function.