ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is defined as a slow, progressive, and apparently inevitable process of involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and quality, which occurs with advancing age. It is widely accepted that sarcopenia can directly affect quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Translate, adapt and validate the “Sarcopenia and Quality of Life” instrument (SarQoL) to the Brazilian context. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation study carried out at the Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The population consisted of 221 older adult participants. The steps recommended by the guidelines from the authors of the original instrument were followed sequentially: initial translation, synthesis of translations, backward translation, evaluation by a panel of judges, pre-test, and analysis of psychometric properties. The translation and adaptation process was conducted as recommended. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-one participants took part in the step analysis of the psychometric properties of SarQoL, in which 55 presented sarcopenia. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the total SarQoL questionnaire was 0.976, indicating excellent internal consistency. Excellent agreements between the test and retest with an Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.983 (95% confidence interval: 0.901–0.996) were observed in the SarQoL domains. The domains of Short-Form 36 and EuroQoL 5-dimension showed significant correlation, from moderate to strong magnitude, with SarQoL total score, indicating convergent validity. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of SarQoL presented evidence of reliability and validity.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os fatores associados à sarcopenia em idosos da comunidade. Tratou-se de um estudo correlacional, de corte transversal e abordagem quantitativa, realizado com 234 idosos da comunidade. Para avaliar a sarcopenia foram utilizados os critérios do European working group on sarcopenia in older people (EWGSOP2) e para coleta de dados foram utilizados: questionário sociodemográfico e de saúde para caracterização dos idosos; escala de depressão geriátrica, Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination-revised, international physical activity questionnaire, versão longa e o medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey. Houve predominância de pessoas do sexo feminino (n=151; 68,30%), de cor branca (n=163; 73,80%), com sobrepeso, segundo o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) (n=124; 56,10%) e 24,90% (n=55) dos participantes apresentaram sarcopenia, segundo os critérios do consenso europeu. Se associaram à sarcopenia os seguintes fatores: idade (OR=1,06; p=0,010), IMC<22kg/m2(OR=5,82; p=0,003), ser insuficientemente ativo fisicamente (OR=3,29; p=0,002) e presença de quedas (OR=2,20; p=0,033). Os idosos com idade avançada, com baixo peso, insuficientemente ativos fisicamente e que sofreram quedas têm mais chance de apresentar sarcopenia.

ABSTRACT Our study aimed to identify the factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults in the community. This is a correlational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted with 234 older people. We used the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) to assess sarcopenia and collected the following data: sociodemographic and health questionnaire to characterize older adults; geriatric depression scale, Addenbrooke’s cognitive exam - revised, international physical activity questionnaire long version and the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey. Most participants were women (n=151; 68.30%), white (n=163; 73.80%), overweight, according to the body mass index - BMI (n=124; 56.10%) and 24.90% (n=55) of them presented sarcopenia, according to the criteria of the European Consensus. The following factors were associated with sarcopenia: age (OR=1.06; p=0.010), BMI<22kg/m2 (OR=5.82; p=0.003), being insufficiently physically active (OR=3.29; p=0.002) and reports of falls (OR=2.20; p=0.033). Older people, with low weight, according to BMI, insufficiently physically active and that suffered falls are more likely to have sarcopenia.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los factores asociados a la sarcopenia en ancianos de la comunidad Se trata de un estudio correlacional, transversal, con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado con 234 ancianos de la comunidad Para evaluar la sarcopenia se utilizaron los criterios del European working group on sarcopenia in older people (EWGSOP2), y para la recolección de datos se utilizaron: cuestionario sociodemográfico y de salud para caracterizar a los ancianos; escala de depresión geriátrica, Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination-revised, international physical activity questionnaire, versión larga, y el medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey. Hubo un predominio de mujeres (n=151; 68,30%), blancas (n=163; el 73,80%), con sobrepeso, de acuerdo con el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) (n=124; 56,10%) y 24,90% (n=55) de los participantes presentaron la sarcopenia, de acuerdo a los criterios del consenso europeo. Los siguientes factores se asociaron a la sarcopenia: edad (OR=1,06; p=0,010), IMC<22kg/m2 (OR=5,82; p=0,003), estar insuficientemente activo físicamente (OR=3,29; p=0,002) y la presencia de caídas (OR=2,20; p=0,033). Los ancianos con edad avanzada, con bajo peso, insuficientemente activos físicamente y que han sufrido caídas tienen más probabilidades de padecer sarcopenia.