Influence of obesity on criteria for classification of sarcopenia in old people

Abstract Objective to identify the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in old residents in the community and to analyze the relation between obesity and the sarcopenia classification criteria. Method This is an analytical cross-sectional study linked to the project “Comprehensive Health Care for the Old People”. The assessment of sarcopenia was carried out using the criteria of the European Sarcopenia Consensus. For the classification of the old people as sarcopenic obese, we considered as likely sarcopenic, sarcopenic, or severe sarcopenic associated with a fat percentage >27% for men and >38% for women. The data were analyzed using bivariate statistics and a linear regression model. Results from a sample of 209 community-dwelling old people, a prevalence of 23,9% of sarcopenia, 28,2% of obesity and 4,3% of sarcopenic obesity was found. Still, it can be observed that men had a higher prevalence of sarcopenia (p=0,006) and obesity (p=0,005) than women; the obese had a lower prevalence of muscle mass loss than the non-obese old people (p<0,001); and the obese showed an increase in muscle strength (p=0,003) and muscle mass (p<0,001) in relation to the non-obese, even when adjusted for gender, age group, multicomorbidities, and functional capacity. Conclusion taking into account the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in the population studied and the positive influence of obesity in the prediction of strength and muscle mass, the importance of multidimensional assessment of the old people is highlighted, in order to ascertain the real need for interventions for weight loss, with the aim of preventing strength and muscle mass loss.