Which factors are associated with sarcopenia and frailty in elderly persons residing in the community?

Abstract

Objective: to broaden knowledge about the factors associated with sarcopenia and frailty in elderly persons residing in the community. Method: an integrative systematic review based on the PRISMA recommendations was carried out, using articles published from 2012 to March 2017 in the PubMED, SciELO, Virtual Health Library, CINAHL and Springer electronic databases with the following descriptors: frail elderly, sarcopenia and etiology and their synonyms. The articles identified by the initial search strategy were independently assessed by two researchers, according to the eligibility criteria, and the articles selected were evaluated for methodological quality. Results: the results of this survey show that frailty may be associated with sarcopenia, low serum vitamin D levels, anemia, subclinical hyperthyroidism in men, while the greatest evolution in women was for osteoporosis. An association between sarcopenia and advanced age was also observed, with worsening quality of life, physical-functional capacity, nutritional status and comorbidities, as well as an increased risk of death in sarcopenic elderly persons. Conclusion: this systematic review showed that low serum levels of vitamin D are associated with frailty and factors that predispose this condition. It is therefore important to monitor the serum levels of this vitamin in the elderly population, and it is suggested that new studies are carried out related to supplements of this vitamin in frail elderly persons.

Prevalência de sintomas depressivos e fatores associados em idosos de Unidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde em Rio Branco, Acre

“…A associação com a fragilidade pode estar relacionada às características simultâneas dessas condições de saúde, configurando exaustão, lentidões psicomotoras e inatividade 34 . Outro fator relacionado com essas características, já respaldado na literatura científica, é o aumento da produção de citocinas atuantes na sarcopenia em idosos, a qual está diretamente vinculada ao prejuízo de funções neuropsicológicas e fragilidade 35 .…”

Using structural equation modeling in the understanding of functional disability in older adults

“…Regarding frailty as a factor associated with less participation in the advanced activities, the scientific literature reveals that this variable can be associated with sarcopenia ( 28 ) . Thus, such aspects must be investigated among community-dwelling older adults, in order to postpone and/or minimize the impact on functionality.…”

Which older people in the community have the highest clinical-functional vulnerability?

“…29 Sarcopenia has a direct tie with frailty, since both conditions share common biological pathways and inflammatory markers. 30 The development of frailty in women is also influenced by various hormonal deficiencies and increased inflammatory states. 31 Furthermore, social aspects play a relevant role in the higher vulnerability of women.…”