title: Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia among elderly in Brazil: findings from the SABE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in older residents in São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,149 older individuals from the second wave of the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE) study from 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  The definition of sarcopenia was based on the consensus of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), which include three components: low muscle mass, assessed by a skeletal muscle mass index of ≤8.90 kg/m2 for men and ≤6.37 kg/m2 for women; low muscle strength, assessed by handgrip strength <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women; and low physical performance, assessed by gait speed <0.8 m/s. Diagnosis of sarcopenia required presence of low muscle mass plus low muscle strength or low physical performance. Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, medical conditions and nutritional status were considered as independent variables to determine the associated factors using a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.1% in women and 14.4% in men. Advanced age with a dose response effect, cognitive impairment, lower income, smoking, undernutrition and risk for undernutrition (p<0.05) were factors associated with sarcopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EWGSOP algorithm is useful to define sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the Brazilian elderly population is high and several associated factors show that this syndrome is affected by multiple domains. No differences were observed by gender in any age groups.
authors.affiliation: Tiago da Silva Alexandre, University of São Paulo, Epidemiology Department, Brazil, tsfisioalex@gmail.com.
authors.forename: T da Silva
authors.initials: Tda S
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Y A de Oliveira
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: J L Ferreira
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lebrão
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000465:Algorithms; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009929:Organ Size; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors