Céspedes BYC, Peña GM, Rodríguez GT

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 67-81
PDF size: 528.62 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Rationale: Aging is associated with important loss of skeletal muscle mass. Upon this nutritional picture excessive body weight might be superimposed. Concurrence of both body composition disorders might aggravate frailty of the elderly. Objective: To describe the occurrence of excessive body weight and sarcopenia in erderlies living without restrictions in the community. Study location: Health area, Medical post number 6, Family Doctor and Nurse Program, “Alex Urquiola Marrero” Community Teaching Policlinic (Holguín, Cuba). Study design: Cross-sectional, descriptive. Study serie: Forty-five (Males: 37.8%; Average age: 73.0 ±10.3 years) living without restrictions in the selected health area. Methods: Excessive body weight was established from the body mass index (BMI). On the other hand, sarcopenia was diagnosed from the calf circumference (CC) value. The elder´s nutritional status was independently assessed by means of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Results: Fifty-five point six percent of the elders received MNA scores ≥ 24. Three nutritional phenotypes were found among the surveyed elderlies: Sarcopenia: Preserved BMI + Diminished CC: 22.2%; Excessive body weight: Increased BMI + Preserved CC: 46.7%; and Excesive body weight + Sarcopenia: Augmented BMI + Reduced CC: 6.7%. Conclusions: Several nutritional phenotypes might concur in erlderlies living without restrictions in the community. The erlder´s nutritional state might be translated to his/her validism and autonomy, and resistance to insulin.