Changes in the Muscle Strength in a Cohort of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Brazil Over 6 Years

A decrease in muscle strength is associated with adverse health consequences. We aimed to evaluate the changes in muscle strength and in the occurrence of dynapenia over 6 years and identify potential factors associated with the changes.

Cohort study of older adults aged ≥60 years, not institutionalized, and living in an urban area of the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Muscle strength was assessed in 2014 (baseline) and reassessed from 2019 to 2020 with digital dynamometers. Associations between the changes in muscle strength and dynapenia over time, and socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral, and health variables were assessed using adjusted mixed linear and logistic models.

Four hundred and eighty-three older adults completed the examinations during both visits. The adjusted analysis showed that, in men, muscle strength decreased from 38.2 to 35.9 kg; while in women, it decreased from 23.5 to 22.1 kg in 2014 and 2019-2020, respectively. Older age, black or brown skin color, middle socioeconomic level, and having <8 years of schooling were associated with a greater decrease in muscle strength. The prevalence of dynapenia increased from 17.8% in 2014 to 24.0% in 2019 to 2020 in men and from 11.3% to 17.5% in women. Changes in dynapenia did not differ between subgroups of the independent variables.

Muscle strength decline and increased dynapenia prevalence have been observed in older adults over the years. Socioeconomic factors were the most strongly associated with the observed changes. Significance/Implications: The reduction in muscle strength highlights the importance of physical assessments for early diagnosis.