Autonomy, integration and effective participation of the elderly in society: a right that can be contemplated through the early identification of nutritional status and sarcopenia

• Autor(a) principal: Jesus, Gleicyane Pereira de
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Henriques, Silvia Guilhon, Fortes, Renata Costa
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Processus de políticas Públicas e Desenvolvimento Social
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.processus.com.br/index.php/ppds/article/view/796
• topic: Sarcopenia. Nutrition. Elderly. Social. Musculoskeletal.; Sarcopenia. Nutrição. Idosos. Direito Social. Musculoesquelético.

Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disease acquired during aging. It consists of loss of muscle mass, loss of strength and muscle function, causing reduced quality of life, lack of independence, and increased mortality. Sarcopenia is prevalent in individuals between 60 and 70 years of age with a range of 5% to 13%. In the elderly over 80 years of age, it can range from 11% to 50%. It is estimated that in 40 years sarcopenia will affect more than 200 million people worldwide. Musculoskeletal loss, with consequent decreases in quality and performance, can result in malnutrition, frailty syndrome, disability and dependence, hospitalization, and even death. The elderly population is assured social rights in order to create conditions that promote autonomy, integration, and effective participation in society. That said, it is paramount to assess nutritional status and sarcopenia in the elderly early on. In this sense, the following guiding questions arose: "Is there a prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in the elderly over 60 years of age in a clinic in Brasilia?" "What is the relationship between sarcopenia and nutritional status in the elderly?" This study aimed to evaluate this relationship, as well as, identify the signs suggestive of sarcopenia in the elderly of Brasilia; diagnose and classify their sarcopenia; evaluate the nutritional status and the risk of malnutrition; expose the relevance of screening and investigation of sarcopenia in the elderly. The evaluation was done using the SARC-F questionnaire and three tests to diagnose and classify sarcopenia. These were the dynamometer, body fat meter, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test. The nutritional status was classified by means of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MAN). This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study.