Muscle Quality Is Associated with History of Falls in Octogenarians
- PDF / 337,831 Bytes
- 6 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
- 70 Downloads / 195 Views
MUSCLE QUALITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORY OF FALLS IN OCTOGENARIANS D. NOGUEIRA PARANHOS AMORIM1, D.C. NASCIMENTO1,2,3, W. STONE4, V.P. ALVES1, C.F. MORAES1, K.H. COELHO VILAÇA E SILVA1 1. Department of Gerontology, Catholic University of Brasilia, UCB, Brasília, DF, Brazil; 2. Department of Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB), Brasília, Brazil; 3. Department of Physical Education, Center University of Distrito Federal (UDF), Brasília, Brazil; 4. School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, USA. Corresponding author: Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça e Silva. Corresponding author at: Catholic University of Brasilia QS 07 – Lote 01 – EPCT – Taguatinga, Brasília/DF - CEP: 71966-700. Email: [email protected]
Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare muscle quality (MQ) between octogenarians classified as non-fallers, fallers and recurrent fallers and identify confounding intrinsic and extrensic factors that impact likelihood for falls. Design: This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study included older adults (N=220) aged 80 years or older. Measurements: The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to evaluate physical function and MQ was calculated using the ratio of grip strength to arm muscle mass (in kilograms) quantified by DXA. Variables related to sociodemographic, clinical, cognitive function, and falls were evaluated using a questionnaire and symptoms of depression were evaluated by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). A Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to verify differences between groups. Binomial logistic regression was performed to determine the impact of age, depression, polypharmacy, balance, MQ, and sex on participants having more than four falls in their history. Results: Increasing MQ was associated with reduced likelihood of more than four falls in their history. Non-fallers were statistically younger (p = 0.012) and took more medications (p = 0.023) than recurrent fallers. Recurrent fallers had lower MQ when compared with fallers (p = 0.007) and non-fallers (p = 0.001) and had a lower GDS score when compared with fallers (p = 0.022). Finally, fallers presented lower scores for balance when compared to non-fallers (p = 0.013). Conclusion: A higher MQ is associated with a reduction in the likelihood falls in octogenarians. Therefore, it may be advantageous for clinicians to evaluate MQ when the screening of the risk of falls in older adults. Key words: Muscle quality, physical function, handgrip strength, aging, falls.
Introduction
them more difficult to study. However, these variables can be grouped into intrinsic (age-related) and extrinsic (environmental) elements (3, 8, 9). Important risk factors include: sex (female sex), living alone, physical disability, need of walking aid, vertigo, Parkinson’s disease, lower-extremity weakness, diabetes, various pathologies, fear of falling, use of sedatives, antiepileptics, vision and/or hearing impairment (3, 8, 9). Another important fall risk factor is th
Data Loading...
