European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2010 (EWGSOP1) and 2019 (EWGSOP2) criteria or slowness: which is the best predictor of mortality risk in older adults?

Objectives: to analyse the accuracy of grip strength and gait speed in identifying mortality; to compare the association between mortality and sarcopenia defined by the EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 using the best cut-off found in the present study and those recommended in the literature and to test whether slowness is better than these two definitions to identify the risk of death in older adults. / Methods: a longitudinal study was conducted involving 6,182 individuals aged 60 or older who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Sarcopenia was defined based on the EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 using different cut-off for low muscle strength (LMS). Mortality was analysed in a 14-year follow-up. / Results: compared with the LMS definitions in the literature (<32, <30, <27 and < 26 kg for men; <21, <20 and < 16 kg for women), the cut-off of <36 kg for men (sensitivity = 58.59%, specificity = 72.96%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.66) and < 23 kg for women (sensitivity = 68.90%, specificity = 59.03%, AUC = 0.64) as well as a low gait speed (LGS) ≤0.8 m/s (sensitivity = 53.72%, specificity = 74.02%, AUC = 0.64) demonstrated the best accuracy for mortality. Using the cut-off found in the present study, probable sarcopenia [HR = 1.30 (95%CI: 1.16–1.46)], sarcopenia [HR = 1.48 (95%CI: 1.24–1.78)] and severe sarcopenia [HR = 1.78 (95%CI: 1.49–2.12)] according to EWGSOP2 were better predictors of mortality risk than EWGSOP1. LGS ≤0.8 m/s was a better mortality risk predictor only when LMS was defined by low cut-off. / Conclusions: using LMS <36 kg for men and < 23 kg for women and LGS ≤ 0.8 m/s, EWGSOP2 was the best predictor for mortality risk in older adults

Sex Differences in Vitamin D Status as a Risk Factor for Incidence of Disability in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: Evidence from the ELSA Cohort Study

Vitamin D deficiency compromises elements underlying the disability process; however, there is no evidence demonstrating the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). We investigated the association between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of incidence of IADL disability separately in men and women. A total of 4768 individuals aged ≥50 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) and without IADL disability according to the Lawton scale were available. Vitamin D was evaluated at baseline by serum 25(OH)D concentrations and classified as sufficient (>50 nmol/L), insufficient (>30 to ≤50 nmol/L) or deficient serum (≤30 nmol/L). IADL were reassessed after 4 years. Poisson models stratified by sex and controlled by covariates demonstrated that deficient serum 25(OH)D was a risk factor for the incidence of IADL disability in men (IRR: 1.43; 95% CI 1.02, 2.00), but not in women (IRR: 1.23; 95% CI 0.94, 1.62). Men appear to be more susceptible to the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of IADL disability, demonstrating the importance of early clinical investigation of serum 25(OH)D concentrations to prevent the onset of disability

Is dynapenic abdominal obesity a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality? A competing risk analysis

BACKGROUND: Dynapenic abdominal obesity has been shown as a risk factor for all-cause mortality in older adults. However, there is no evidence on the association between this condition and cardiovascular mortality. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether dynapenic abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular mortality in individuals aged 50 and older. METHODS: A longitudinal study with an 8-year follow-up was conducted involving 7,030 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing study. Abdominal obesity and dynapenia were respectively defined based on waist circumference (> 102 cm for men and > 88 cm for women) and grip strength (< 26 kg for men and < 16 kg for women). The sample was divided into four groups: non-dynapenic/non-abdominal obesity (ND/NAO), non-dynapenic/abdominal obesity (ND/AO), dynapenic/non-abdominal obesity (D/NAO) and dynapenic/abdominal obesity (D/AO). The outcome was cardiovascular mortality. The Fine-Grey regression model was used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular mortality as a function of abdominal obesity and dynapenia status in the presence of competing events controlled by socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical variables. RESULTS: The risk of cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in individuals with D/AO compared with ND/NAO (SHR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.15-2.97). D/NAO was also associated with cardiovascular mortality (SHR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.08-2.44). CONCLUSION: Dynapenic abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular mortality, with a larger effect size compared to dynapenia alone in individuals older than 50 years. Thus, prevention strategies and clinical interventions that enable mitigating the harmful effects of these conditions should be adopted to diminish such risk

Combination of dynapenia and abdominal obesity affects long-term physical performance trajectories in older adults: Sex differences

BACKGROUND: There is little epidemiological evidence of sex differences in the association between dynapenic abdominal obesity and the decline in physical performance among older adults. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the decline in physical performance is worse in individuals with dynapenic abdominal obese and whether there are sex differences in this association. METHODS: Out of 6,183 individuals aged 60 years or older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2,308 participants with missing data were excluded. Therefore, a longitudinal analysis was conducted with 3,875 older adults. Abdominal obesity was determined based on waist circumference (>102 cm for male and >88 cm for female) and dynapenia was based on grip strength (<26 kg for male <16 kg for female). The sample was divided into four groups: non-dynapenic/non-abdominal obesity (ND/NAO), non-dynapenic/abdominal obesity (ND/AO), dynapenic/non-abdominal obesity (D/NAO) and dynapenic/abdominal obesity (D/AO). Decline in physical performance in an eight-year follow-up period was analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: At baseline, both male (-1.11 points; 95% CI: -1.58, -0.65; p <0.001) and female (-1.39 points; 95% CI: -1.76, -1.02; p <0.001) with D/AO had worse performances on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) than their counterparts in the ND/NAO group. Over the eight-year follow-up, male with D/AO had a faster rate of decline in the SPPB performance compared to male in the ND/NAO group (-0.11 points per year; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.01; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: D/AO is associated with a stronger decline in physical performance in male but not female. The identification and management of dynapenic abdominal obesity may be essential to avoiding the first signs of functional impairment in older male

Are Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency Risk Factors for the Incidence of Dynapenia?

Epidemiological evidence showing the association between low 25(OH)D and age-related reduction in neuromuscular strength (dynapenia) is a paucity and controversial and, to date, the effect of osteoporosis and vitamin D supplementation on these associations has not been measured. Thus, we analyze whether serum 25(OH)D deficiency and insufficiency are risk factors for the incidence of dynapenia in individuals aged 50 or older and whether osteoporosis or vitamin D supplementation modify these associations. For that, 3205 participants of the ELSA study who were non-dynapenic at baseline were followed for 4 years. Vitamin D was measured at baseline by the serum concentration of 25(OH)D and classified as sufficient (> 50 nmol/L), insufficient (≥ 30 and ≤ 50 nmol/L) or deficient (< 30 nmol/L). The incidence of dynapenia was determined by a grip strength < 26 kg for men and < 16 kg for women at the end of the 4-year follow-up. Poisson regression models were adjusted by sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and biochemical characteristics. Serum 25(OH)D deficient was a risk factor for the incidence of dynapenia (IRR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.04-2.79). When only individuals without osteoporosis and those who did not use vitamin D supplementation were analyzed, both serum 25(OH)D deficiency (IRR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.01-3.13) and insufficiency (IRR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.06-2.94) were risk factors for the incidence of dynapenia. In conclusion, a serum level of 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/L is a risk factor for the incidence of dynapenia. Among individuals without osteoporosis and those who do not take vitamin D supplementation, the threshold of risk is higher (≤ 50 nmol/L)

Pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults

INTRODUCTION: Providing care to an older adult is an activity that requires considerable physical effort and can cause stress and psychological strain, which accentuate factors that trigger the cycle of frailty, especially when the caregiver is also an older adult. However, few studies have analyzed the frailty process in older caregivers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 328 community-dwelling older caregivers. Frailty was identified using frailty phenotype. Socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical aspects, characteristics related to care and functioning were covariables in the multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 58.8% and 21.1%, respectively. An increased age, female sex, not having a conjugal life, depressive symptoms and pain were commonly associated with pre-frailty and frailty. Sedentary lifestyle was exclusively associated with pre-frailty, whereas living in an urban area, low income and the cognitive decline were associated with frailty. A better performance on instrumental activities of daily living reduced the chance of frailty. CONCLUSION: Many factors associated with the frailty syndrome may be related to the act of providing care, which emphasizes the importance of the development of coping strategies for this population

Obesidade abdominal, dinapenia e obesidade abdominal dinapênica como fatores associados à quedas em idosos residentes no município de São Paulo - Estudo SABE

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between abdominal obesity/dynapenia/dynapenic abdominal obesity and a single fall/recurrent falls as well as determine the effect size of such associations using two cutoff points for dynapenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1.063 older adults pertaining to the third wave of the Saúde, Bem Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE – Health, Wellbeing and Ageing) study. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference of >102 cm for men and > 88 cm for women. The following were the cutoff points for dynapenia: grip strength < 30 kg for men and < 20 kg for women or < 26 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. Dynapenic abdominal obesity was defined by the combination of abdominal obesity and dynapenia. Regarding the outcome, the individuals were classified as non-fallers, single fallers or recurrent fallers. Socioeconomic, neuropsychiatric and environmental factors as well as living habits, polypharmacy, health status and functionality were the control variables in the multinomial regression models. Results: Adopting a cutoff point of 30/20, only one association was found: dynapenic abdominal obesity and a single fall (RRR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.48-3.80). However, adopting a cutoff point of 26/16, dynapenic abdominal obesity (RRR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.09-3.44), abdominal obesity (RRR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.08-2.52) and dynapenia (RRR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.01-3.13) were associated with a single fall, with a larger effect size of the association with dynapenic abdominal obesity than the other two conditions. Moreover, dynapenia defined using the 26/16 cutoff point was associated with recurrent falls (RRR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.19-4.82). Conclusions: The cutoff point used to define dynapenia affects associations between abdominal obesity/dynapenia/dynapenic abdominal obesity and a single fall/recurring falls. A cutoff point of 26/16 is better for identifying such associations.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Objetivo: Investigar a associação de obesidade abdominal (OA), dinapenia e obesidade abdominal dinapênica (OA/D) com queda única e quedas recorrentes, assim como o tamanho do efeito de tais associações, adotando duas notas de cortes para dinapenia. Método: Estudo transversal com 1.063 idosos provenientes da terceira onda do Estudo SABE. OA foi definida como circunferência de cintura > 102 cm para homens e > 88 cm para mulheres. As notas de corte para dinapenia foram: força de preensão manual < 30 kg para homens e < 20 kg para mulheres ou < 26 kg para homens e < 16 kg para mulheres. OA/D foi definida pela associação de OA e dinapenia. Quanto ao desfecho, os idosos foram classificados como não caidores, caidores únicos ou recorrentes. Fatores socioeconômicos, neuropsiquiátricos, ambientais, hábitos de vida, polifarmácia, estado de saúde e funcionalidade foram variáveis de controle nos modelos de regressão multinomial. Resultados: Adotando a nota de corte 30/20, encontramos somente a associação entre OA/D e queda única (RRR = 2,37 IC 95% 1,48–3,80). Em contrapartida, adotando a nota de corte 26/16 tanto a OA/D (RRR = 1,93 IC 95% 1,09–3,44), quanto a OA (RRR = 1,65 IC 95% 1,08–2,52) e a dinapenia (RRR = 1,77 IC 95% 1,01–3,13) associaram-se à queda única, sendo o tamanho do efeito da associação maior com OA/D do que com as duas condições isoladas. Além disso, a dinapenia definida com o corte 26/16 associou-se com quedas recorrentes (RRR = 2,39 IC 95% 1,19–4,82). Conclusões: A nota de corte adotada para definir dinapenia modifica as associações de OA, dinapenia, OA/D com queda única e recorrente, sendo o corte 26/16 melhor para identificá-las.FAPESP: 2015/18291-

Combined effect of dynapenia (muscle weakness) and low vitamin D status on incident disability

There is little epidemiologic evidence considering the combined effect of dynapenia and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D] on incident disability. Our aim was to investigate whether the combination of dynapenia and low 25 (OH) D serum levels increases the risk of activities of daily living (ADL) incident disability. The baseline sample was categorized into 4 groups (ie, nondynapenic/normal 25 (OH) D, low 25 (OH) D only, dynapenic only, and dynapenic/low 25 (OH) D according to their handgrip strength (<26 kg for men and <16 kg for women) and 25 (OH) D (≤50 nmol/L). The outcome was the presence of any ADL disability 2 years after baseline according to the modified Katz Index. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) adjusted by sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics were estimated using Poisson regression. The fully adjusted model showed that older adults with dynapenia only and those with lower serum levels of 25 (OH) D combined with dynapenia had higher incident ADL disability risk compared with nondynapenic and those with normal serum levels of 25 (OH) D. The IRRs for lower 25 (OH) D serum levels combined with dynapenia were higher than for dynapenia only, however, the confidence intervals (CIs) showed similar effect for these 2 groups. The IRRs were 1.31 for low 25(OH) D only (95% CI 0.99–1.74), 1.77 for dynapenia only (95% CI 1.08–2.88), and 1.94 for combined dynapenia and low 25(OH)D (95% CI 1.28–2.94). Dynapenia only and dynapenia combined with low 25 (OH) D serum levels were important risk factors for ADL disability in middle-aged individuals and older adults in 2 years of follow-up201475

Does the incidence of frailty differ between men and women over time?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms, risk factors and influence of sex on the incidence of frailty components are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyse sex differences in factors associated with the increase in the number of frailty components. METHODS: A 12-year follow-up analysis was conducted with 1,747 participants aged ≥ 60 of the ELSA Study with no frailty at baseline. Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse the increase in the number of frailty components stratified by sex, considering socioeconomic, behavioural, clinical and biochemical characteristics as exposure variables. RESULTS: The increase in the number of frailty components in both sexes was associated with an advanced age (70 to 79 years and 80 years or older), low educational level, sedentary lifestyle, elevated depressive symptoms, joint disease, high C-reactive protein levels, perception of poor vision and uncontrolled diabetes (p < 0.05). Osteoporosis, low weight, heart disease, living with one or more people and perception of poor hearing were associated with an increase in the number of frailty components in men. High fibrinogen concentration, controlled diabetes, stroke and perception of fair vision were associated with the outcome in women (p < 0.05). Obese women and men and overweight women had a lower increase in the number of frailty components compared to those in the ideal weight range. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic factors, musculoskeletal disorders, heart disease and low weight seem to sustain the frailty process in men, whereas cardiovascular and neuroendocrine disorders seem to sustain the frailty process in women

Diagnostic accuracy of the short physical performance battery for detecting frailty in older people

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is widely used to predict negative health-related outcomes in older adults. However, the cutoff point for the detection of the frailty syndrome is not yet conclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the SPPB for detecting frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This was a population-based cross-sectional study focusing on households in urban areas. A total of 744 people who were 65 years old or older participated in this study. Frailty was determined by the presence of 3 or more of the following components: unintentional weight loss, self-reported fatigue, weakness, low level of physical activity, and slowness. Diagnostic accuracy measures of the SPPB cutoff points were calculated for the identification of frailty (individuals who were frail) and the frailty process (individuals who were considered to be prefrail and frail). Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. Odds ratios for frailty and the frailty process and respective CIs were calculated on the basis of the best cutoff points. A bootstrap analysis was conducted to confirm the internal validity of the findings. The best cutoff point for the determination of frailty was ≤ 8 points (sensitivity = 79.7%; specificity = 73.8%; Youden J statistic = 0.53; positive likelihood ratio = 3.05; area under the curve = 0.85). The best cutoff point for the determination of the frailty process was ≤ 10 points (sensitivity = 75.5%; specificity = 52.8%; Youden J statistic = 0.28; positive likelihood ratio = 1.59; area under the curve = 0.76). The adjusted odds of being frail and being in the frailty process were 7.44 (95% CI = 3.90-14.19) and 2.33 (95% CI = 1.65-3.30), respectively. External validation using separate data was not performed, and the cross-sectional design does not allow SPPB predictive capacity to be established. The SPPB might be used as a screening tool to detect frailty syndrome in community-dwelling older adults, but the cutoff points should be tested in another sample as a further validation step9098CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ17/200