Estudo transversal da associação entre sarcopenia e qualidade de vida em idosos comunitários da Região Amazônica

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the average quality of life (QOL) scores in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older people; and to analyze the association between sarcopenia and QOL among older people in the community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 378 older people from of the urban area of Macapa-AP, Brazil. The data were collected from a structured form, with sarcopenia being evaluated from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and QOL using the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were performed using the t-test and linear regression model (p <0.05). Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 12.7% (n = 48). Sarcopenic older people presented lower QOL scores when compared to non-sarcopenic individuals for functional capacity, pain, general health status and social aspects (p <0.05). The adjusted analysis for socioeconomic and clinical factors indicated an inverse association between sarcopenia and the domains functional capacity (β = -0,125; p = 0.010) and general health status (β = -0,112; p = 0.028). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest a probable decline in QOL in the presence of sarcopenia among the older people, especially in the functional capacity and general health status