ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia according to five cut-off points for muscle strength and the association with undernutrition in Community dwelling older adults. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study with 321 elderly subjects from community centers in Cuiabá-MT. The main variable was the prevalence of sarcopenia and association with undernutrition. Sarcopenia was diagnosed by low muscle strength (grip strength - GS; kg) according to five cut-off points and low calf circumference (CC; cm). Nutritional status was assessed by mini nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF®). RESULTS: The median age was 69 (64-74) years, and 24.7% were undernourished. The presence of sarcopenia ranged from 1.6 to 7.6%. This prevalence was lower using EWGSOP2 criteria compared to EWGSOP (p=0.005) and ESCEO and SDOC criteria (p<0.001). The older undernourished adults were almost 3.5 times more likely to have sarcopenia (OR=3.49; p=0.003) when ESCEO criteria was used and almost 2.5 times (OR=2.43; p=0.037) times using SDOC criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sarcopenia ranged from 1.6 to 7.6%. The older undernourished adults were almost 3.5 (ESCEO) and 2.5 (SDOC) times more likely to have sarcopenia.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do jejum noturno na força muscular de pacientes adultos internados. Métodos: Estudo clínico prospectivo realizado com 221 pacientes adultos. Os desfechos observados foram a força de preensão palmar avaliada pela dinamometria em jejum, após o desjejum, após o almoço, e acumulada (média da força de preensão palmar após desjejum e almoço). Foi considerada a média das três medidas da força de preensão palmar para representar cada momento. O ponto de corte para a média da força de preensão palmar em jejum categorizada no percentil 50 (35,5kg para homens, e 27,7kg para mulheres) foi usado para as comparações. Investigaram-se idade, sexo, peso atual e habitual (kg), perda de peso (kg), diagnóstico de câncer, estado nutricional, frequência de idosos, sintomas do trato digestório, tipo de dieta oral e quantidade ingerida no jantar no dia anterior à mensuração da força de preensão palmar (ingestão zero, até 50%, <100 e 100%). Resultados: A força de preensão palmar após o jejum noturno foi menor que a força após o desjejum (31,1±8,7kg versus 31,6±8,8kg; p=0,01) e quando foi considerada a força acumulada (31,7±8,8kg; p<0,001). A força de preensão palmar em jejum foi maior para os pacientes que ingeriram 100% (33,2±9,1kg versus 30,4±8,4kg; p=0,03) e >50% do jantar (32,1±8,4kg versus 28,6±8,8kg; p=0,006). A análise multivariada mostrou que ingerir menos da metade do jantar, desnutrição grave e ser idoso foram fatores independentes para redução da força de preensão palmar em jejum. Conclusão: A função muscular ficou comprometida após jejum noturno em pacientes adultos internados para tratamento clínico, especialmente nos casos de baixa ingestão alimentar, desnutridos e idosos.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effects of overnight fasting on handgrip strength of adult inpatients. Methods: A prospective clinical study enrolling 221 adult patients. The endpoints were handgrip strength obtained by dynamometry in three time points (morning after an overnight fasting, after breakfast and after lunch) and the cumulative handgrip strength (mean of handgrip strength after breakfast and lunch) in the same day. The mean of three handgrip strength measures was considered to represent each time point. A cut-off for the mean overnight fasting handgrip strength at the 50th percentile (35.5kg for males and 27.7kg for females) was used for comparisons. We registered the age, sex, current and usual weight (kg), weight loss (kg), diagnosis of cancer, nutritional status, elderly frequency, digestive tract symptoms, type of oral diet, and the amount of dinner ingested the night before handgrip strength (zero intake, until 50%, <100% and 100%). Results: Handgrip strength evaluated after an overnight fasting (31.2±8.7kg) was lesser when compared with handgrip strength after breakfast (31.6±8.8kg; p=0.01), and with cumulative handgrip strength (31.7±8.8kg; p<0.001). Handgrip strength was greater in patients who ingested 100% (33.2±9.1kg versus 30.4±8.4kg; p=0.03) and above 50% of dinner (32.1±8.4kg versus 28.6±8.8kg; p=0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that ingesting below 50% of dinner, severe malnutrition, and elderly were independent factors for handgrip strength reduction after overnight fasting. Conclusion: The muscular function was impaired after an overnight fasting of adult patients hospitalized for medical treatment, especially for those with low ingestion, malnourished and elderly.