How does the cut-off point for grip strength affect the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors? Findings from the Elsi-Brazil Study

Bibliographic Data

ID5166939
AuthorsSara Souza Lima (0000-0002-0215-4746, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Roberta De Oliveira Máximo (0000-0001-9757-9458, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Milena Maragno Luiz (0000-0001-5563-6354, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Patrícia Silva Tofani (0000-0002-8065-6100, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Sergipe, Brazil), Letícia Coelho Silveira (0000-0002-5215-7937, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Tatyane Bandeira De Souza (0000-0003-3534-1174, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Thaís Barros Pereira Da Silva (0000-0001-8554-8638, Universidade Federal de São Carlos), Valdete Regina Guandalini (0000-0003-2266-6113, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil), Maria Fernanda Furtado Lima-Costa (0000-0002-3474-2980, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil), Cesar Messias De Oliveira (0000-0002-4099-4762, University College London, United Kingdom), Tiago Da Silva Alexandre (0000-0003-3791-9793, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil; University College London, United Kingdom)
Year2025
Volume41
Issue5
Pagese00155624-e00155624
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0102-311xen155624
PMID40608657
OpenAlexW4411135990
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2025000501408
LanguageEN
References cited60

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors with the definition of muscle weakness established using two different cut-off points for grip strength. We carried out a cross-sectional study with 7,065 participants (aged 50 or older) from the ELSI-Brazil Study. Sarcopenia was defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and two different cut-off points for grip strength to define weakness: < 27kg for men/< 16kg for women or < 36kg for men < 23kg for women. The prevalence of different sarcopenia status was estimated, and associations with sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors were investigated using multinomial regression models. The mean age of participants was 61 years; 51.8% were women and 41.5% were at risk of malnutrition. By adopting the higher cut-off points (< 36kg/< 23kg) for the definition of weakness, the prevalence of probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia quadrupled (40.1% versus 10.6%; 5% versus 1.4%, respectively) and the prevalence of severe sarcopenia doubled (8.8 versus 3.9%). Nutritional status was associated with sarcopenia status, however the cut-off points < 36/< 23kg increased substantially the relative risk ratio between malnutrition and severe sarcopenia (RRR = 11.23 versus 6.45). In general, factors associated with sarcopenia status were similar irrespective of the cut-off point adopted. Higher cut-off points for the definition of weakness may be better for identifying sarcopenia, enabling early interventions to avoid adverse outcomes related to the disease

Grip strength · Malnutrition · Multinomial logistic regression · Physical therapy · Psychological intervention · Sarcopenia · Weakness · Body Composition Measurement Techniques · Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Surgery · Gerontology

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