| Abstract [eng] |
Study rationale: Major risk factors for sarcopenia include malnutrition and insufficient physical activity. Older adults struggle to maintain good nutritional status, optimal physical activity levels, due to chronic diseases, social, economic, and psychological factors. Given the increasing population of older adults in Lithuania and globally, this study is clinically important, to contribute to knowledge about the relationship between sarcopenia, nutritional status, and physical activity. The aim: to determine the associations between components of sarcopenia, nutrition, and physical activity. Materials and methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to June 2024 at Mykolas Marcinkevicius Hospital. Information on medication use, medical history was collected. Anthropometric measurements were performed, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index were calculated. Dynamometry, dual X–ray absorptiometry, Chair Stand test, 4-meter gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, Activities of Daily Living scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, Geriatric Depression Scale were performed. Data was analysed using SPSS ver.27.0. Results: Study included 204 individuals (161 (78.9%) women and 43 (21.1%) men). Participants` median age was 83 years. In total, 93 participants were in the sarcopenia group and 111 individuals in the non–sarcopenia group. The results showed that participants with sarcopenia had poorer nutritional status, than participants without sarcopenia (p<0.001). It was observed that, older individuals and individuals with sarcopenia had lower physical activity levels (p<0.001). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between physical activity and muscle strength (r=0.587; p<0.001), muscle mass (r=0.447; p<0.001), physical performance (r=0.661; <0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between nutritional status and muscle strength (r=0.368; p<0.001), muscle mass (r=0.461; p<0.001), physical performance (r=0.658; p<0.001). Conclusions: Sarcopenia, low muscle strengt, low muscle mass and low physical performance are associated with malnutrition, being at risk of malnutrition and low physical activity levels in older adults. |
