Accuracy of SARC-F and SARC-CalF for sarcopenia screening in older women from southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of the SARC-F and the SARC-CalF as screening tools for sarcopenia in community-dwelling older women ≥60 y of age. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study evaluating a convenience sample of women ≥60 y of age, living in Southern Brazil. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria proposed in the latest European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People consensus (EWGSOP2). Appendicular muscle mass was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength was measured by handheld dynamometry, and physical performance through the 4-m gait speed test. The SARC-F questionnaire and SARC-CalF score for sarcopenia screening were also applied. RESULTS: We evaluated 288 participants, with a mean age of 67.6 ± 5.8 y. The frequency of probable and confirmed sarcopenia in the sample was 7.3% and 2.1%, respectively. The frequency of risk for sarcopenia assessed by the SARC-F was 4.5% and SARC-CalF 22.2%. Despite the excellent specificity (95.4%) demonstrated by the SARC-F, its sensitivity in identifying confirmed cases was null, whereas the SARC-CalF showed high sensitivity (83.3%) and good specificity (79%). CONCLUSION: The present study findings suggested that SARC-CalF may be able to outperform SARC-F as a sarcopenia screening tool in women ≥60 y of age even under the new EWGSOP2 criteria, the main determinant of which is strength as observed in studies based on the previous definition.

Sarcopenia in Brazilian rural and urban elderly women: Is there any difference?

OBJECTIVES: There are many studies concerning sarcopenia prevalence from all over the world. However, to our knowledge, only two compared urban and rural sarcopenia and to date, none have been conducted in the Americas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia in a convenience sample of women ≥60 y of age who underwent bone densitometry and live in urban and rural areas of southern Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study comprising 205 women ≥60 y of age who had undergone bone densitometry. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. The diagnosis combined the evaluation of muscle mass (assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (measured using a manual digital dynamometer), and muscular performance (evaluated by the 4-m walking speed test). Sociodemographic data, smoking status, chronic conditions, number of falls and fractures in the past year, and level of physical activity also were collected. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was present in 2.4% of the total sample. Urban and rural populations significantly differed in terms of schooling (P < 0.001), occupation (P = 0.010), socioeconomic status (P = 0.001), and smoking status (P = 0.006). The environment in which the women lived was independently associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio, 9.561; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-89.523; P = 0.048). The prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly higher in the urban women than in the rural group (5.7 versus 0.7%, respectively; P = 0.047). After multivariate analysis, the environment of the women's residence remained independently associated with sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: Urban elderly women are more vulnerable to sarcopenia than rural elderly women.

Association between body mass index and osteoporosis in women from northwestern Rio Grande do Sul / Associação entre o índice de massa corporal e osteoporose em mulheres da região noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Methods: Observational study with postmenopausal women who underwent bone densitometry in Palmeira das Missões - RS. Sociodemographic data, risk for osteoporosis and food intake were assessed through a specific form. BMI was calculated according to WHO criteria. The assessment of BMD was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and classified according to WHO. Statistical analysis was performed using prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals for the factors studied. Variables associated with p < 0.20 with the different outcomes (osteopenia and osteoporosis) were included in a Poisson regression model with robust variance to adjust for potential confounding factors. A 5% significance level was considered. Results: 393 postmenopausal women with a mean age of 59.6 ± 8.2 years participated.After the adjustments, the normal weight women had 1.2 times the prevalence of osteopenia of obese women (PR = 1.2; CI 95% 1.3-1.5). Considering osteoporosis, the PR of euthophic women was twice the PR of obese women (PR = 2; CI 95% 1.4-2.9) and was 1.7 times greater for overweight group compared to obese category (PR = 1.7; CI 95% 1.2-2.5). Conclusion: Obese women had lower prevalence of osteopenia compared with normal weight subjects and also with lower prevalence of osteoporosis as compared to normal- and overweight women.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) em mulheres pós-menopáusicas. Métodos: Estudo observacional, com mulheres pós-menopáusicas submetidas à densitometria óssea em Palmeira das Missões (RS). Dados sociodemográficos, de risco para a osteoporose e do consumo alimentar foram avaliados por meio de formulário específico. O IMC foi calculado de acordo com a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS). A avaliação da DMO foi feita por meio de absorciometria por dupla emissão de raios-X (DXA) e classificada de acordo com a OMS. A análise estatística foi feita por meio de razões de prevalência (RP) e os seus respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança para os fatores em estudo. Variáveis que se associaram com p < 0,20 com os diferentes desfechos (osteopenia e osteoporose) foram incluídas em um modelo de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para ajuste para potenciais fatores de confusão. Foi considerado um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Participaram 393 mulheres pós-menopáusicas, com média de 59,6 ± 8,2 anos.Após os ajustes, as mulheres eutróficas apresentaram 1,2 vez a prevalência de osteopenia das mulheres obesas (RP = 1,2; IC 95% 1,3-1,5). E em relação à osteoporose, no grupo das eutróficas a RP foi duas vezes a RP das obesas (RP = 2; IC 95% 1,4-2,9) e 1,7 no grupo com sobrepeso em relação à categoria obesidade (RP = 1,7; IC 95% 1,2-2,5). Conclusões: As mulheres obesas apresentaram menor prevalência de osteopenia em comparação com as eutróficas, bem como tiveram menor prevalência de osteoporose em comparação com as mulheres eutróficas e com sobrepeso.

Association between body mass index and osteoporosis in women from northwestern Rio Grande do Sul.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Observational study with postmenopausal women who underwent bone densitometry in Palmeira das Missões - RS. Sociodemographic data, risk for osteoporosis and food intake were assessed through a specific form. BMI was calculated according to WHO criteria. The assessment of BMD was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and classified according to WHO. Statistical analysis was performed using prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals for the factors studied. Variables associated with p<0.20 with the different outcomes (osteopenia and osteoporosis) were included in a Poisson regression model with robust variance to adjust for potential confounding factors. A 5% significance level was considered. RESULTS: 393 postmenopausal women with a mean age of 59.6±8.2 years participated. After the adjustments, the normal weight women had 1.2 times the prevalence of osteopenia of obese women (PR=1.2; CI 95% 1.3-1.5). Considering osteoporosis, the PR of euthophic women was twice the PR of obese women (PR=2; CI 95% 1.4-2.9) and was 1.7 times greater for overweight group compared to obese category (PR=1.7; CI 95% 1.2-2.5). CONCLUSION: Obese women had lower prevalence of osteopenia compared with normal weight subjects and also with lower prevalence of osteoporosis as compared to normal- and overweight women.

Association of alcohol consumption with coronary artery disease severity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The ingestion of small to moderate alcohol consumption amounts has been associated to cardiovascular protection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and coronary artery disease severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional Study with patients undergoing coronary angiography. Age, cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes) and alcohol drinking habit were investigated. Alcohol consumption was divided in three categories: nondrinker, moderate alcohol consumption (less than 15 g ethanol/day for women or 30 g ethanol/day for men) and heavy alcohol consumption. Coronary artery disease severity was assessed through the Friesinger Score (FS) in the coronary angiography, by interventional cardiologists blinded to alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The final sample included 363 adults; of those, 228 were men (62.81%). Mean age was 60.5 ± 10.9 y. Unadjusted analyses identified sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and alcohol consumption as the main covariates associated with the Friesinger score. Lower Friesinger scores were also observed in moderate alcohol consumption when comparing to those who do not drink (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.79-0.95). CONCLUSION: Among patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing coronary angiography, moderate alcohol consumption is associated to a lower coronary artery disease severity than heavy drinking.