Tongue pressure in sarcopenic and dynapenic elderly

We aimed to describe tongue pressure in sarcopenic and dynapenic older adults.

An exploratory observational cross-sectional study was performed. Data were gathered from 29 institutionalized older adults (over 60 years old) and several methods were used in order to assess sarcopenia - handgrip strength (dynamometer), muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis and calf circumference); physical performance (Short Physical Performance Balance); and tongue pressure (PLL Pró-Fono). For descriptive analysis, means and medians were described for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies were described for qualitative variables. In the inferential analysis, Pearson's and Spearman's coefficients were used for correlation measurements and Chi-square and Fisher's were used for association, 5% significance level.

Most patients were female (79.31%), with a median age of 81 years (IQR 12). Regarding diagnosis, 79.31% were sarcopenic, 17.24% were dynapenic and 3.45% did not present sarcopenia. Fifty-eight point six percent of patients presented low tongue pressure, being 88.2% aged 70-79 years old. Among sarcopenic older adults, 65.2% showed a decline in tongue pressure, while 40% showed similar results in the dynapenic group. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between handgrip and tongue pressure in the 70-79 years age group (p=0.03). With regards to women, there was an association between tongue pressure and sarcopenia (p=0.039) and a positive correlation between tongue pressure and handgrip (p=0.003).

A decline in tongue strength was observed in the two studied groups, with worse outcomes in sarcopenic older adults.