Correlation between Muscle Mass and Fragility Parameters in the Elderly
Authors:   Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi’,São Paulo, SP, Brazil, JCM de Oliveira , CAM Gouveia ,   Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi’,São Paulo, SP, Brazil, LDP Moreira ,   Postgraduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, Anhembi Morumbi University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, LGA Viscardi ,   Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi’,São Paulo, SP, Brazil, AS de Oliveira ,   Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi’,São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Published: April 2024

ntroduction: The frailty syndrome is an unstable condition related to the elderly’s functional decline and vulnerability to maintain homeostasis in the face of stressful factors. Grip strength is used as a predictor of general strength status, is closely related to mortality and disability and is related to several factors such as muscle mass. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between muscle mass and frailty parameters in the elderly. Methodology: An analytical, prospective, cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Elderly people aged 60 years or more, of both sexes, members of one of the elderly groups of the Integrated Health Center at Universidade Anhembi Morumbi were included in the research. The phenotype of Fried et al., [1]. was used to classify frailty, handgrip strength, gait speed (seconds at a distance of 4.6 meters), unintentional weight loss (greater than or equal to 4.5 kg), were evaluated. Exhaustion report (CES-D Depression Scale) and level of physical activity, measured through session 4 of the IPAQ long version. Bioelectrical impedance was performed using a tetrapolar device (Quantum II, RJL System, Clinton Twp, MI, USA). Results: It was observed that the groups were similar to each other, except for height, as the non-frail ones were taller and had greater maximum handgrip strength. There was a statistical trend (p=0.05) in relation to BMI. In the group without frailty, there was a moderate and positive correlation between skeletal muscle and maximum grip strength (r=0.7; p<0.02). In the frail group there was no significant correlation (r=0.3; p<0.10). In assessing the correlation between skeletal muscle and age, no significant correlation was observed in the nonfrail group (r=0.2; p<0.57) or in the frail group (r=0.3; p<0.11). When evaluated between skeletal muscle and basal metabolism in the group without frailty, there is a strong and positive correlation (r=0.8; p<0.01), which did not occur in the frail group (r=-0, 1; p<0.79). Finally, the non-frail and frail groups did not present a significant correlation between skeletal muscle and gait speed (r=-0.3; p<0.39; r=-0.2; p<0.19, respectively). Conclusion: The frail elderly have lower maximum handgrip strength compared to the non-frail elderly, but no correlations were observed between skeletal muscle and the variables maximum grip strength, age, basal metabolism and gait speed. In turn, the non-frail elderly showed a moderate and positive correlation between skeletal muscle and the variables maximum grip strength and basal metabolism, but there was no correlation between skeletal muscle and the variables age and gait speed.