The Association between Polypharmacy, Low Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index, and Physical Performance: A...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Geriatric syndromes like frailty, polypharmacy, and sarcopenia are increasingly prevalent with the aging population.
• Understanding factors influencing functional decline is essential for effective aging-related health strategies.
• Physical performance is a key indicator of health and independence in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between polypharmacy and physical performance.
• To identify other factors associated with physical performance in a diverse adult population.
• To explore the impact of body composition and educational level on physical function.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 445 participants aged 20 and above.
• Polypharmacy defined as daily use of 8 or more pills.
• Physical performance assessed using Time-Up-and-Go (TUG) and five times Sit-to-Stand (5xSTS) tests; body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Main Results:

• 11.0% of participants were on polypharmacy, with an average age of 64.22 years.
• Poorer physical performance (longer TUG and 5xSTS times) correlated with higher age, low education, and polypharmacy.
• Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index showed a negative correlation with poorer physical performance, indicating low muscle mass is a contributing factor.

Conclusions:

• Polypharmacy, low muscle mass, and lower educational attainment are significantly associated with poorer physical performance.
• These findings underscore the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors for early prevention of functional decline.
• Further research is warranted to explore the complex interplay of these risk factors in aging populations.