Nutrición Hospitalaria
ISSN 1699-5198 ISSN 0212-1611
ABDALLA, Pedro Pugliesi et al. Cut-off points of appendicular lean soft tissue for identifying sarcopenia in the older adults in Brazil: a cross-sectional study. []. , 37, 2, pp.306-312. 03--2020. ISSN 1699-5198. https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.02951.
Introduction:
appropriate appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST) parameters to identify sarcopenia in Brazil are scarce. The use of international references may lead to a false positive diagnosis. The objective was to propose cut-off points to identify sarcopenia in older men and women using DXA-derived ALST values from a young adult population.
Methods:
this was an observational study with a cross-sectional analysis. University students of both sexes (n = 125), aged 20 to 30 years, underwent anthropometric measurements and DXA scanning to obtain their ALST (kg). Cut-off points for sarcopenia were set at -2 standard deviations (-2SDs) away from the mean ALST of a young sample. Absolute values and index (ALST/height2, ALST/weight, and ALST/body mass index [BMI]) were considered as recommended by international consensus.
Results:
compared to women, men presented higher values of weight, height, BMI, bone mineral content, lean soft tissue, ALST, and ALST index (kg/m²). Only fat mass was higher in women, and age was not different between genders. The -2SD ALST index obtained were ≤ 6.56 kg/m² for men and ≤ 4.67 kg/m² for women. They were below international and national values, which tended to classify false positives.
Conclusions:
the -2SD ALST values proposed here are validated cut-offs for identifying low muscle in older adults and to prevent misdiagnosis with sarcopenia. In addition, they contribute to efficient monitoring and control of this disease in geriatric populations.
: Anthropometry; Absorptiometry; Frailty; Sarcopenia; Ageing; Brazil.