J Nutr Health Aging

THE JOURNAL OF NUTRITION, HEALTH & AGING©

PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF SARCOPENIA AMONG ELDERLY IN BRAZIL: FINDINGS FROM THE SABE STUDY T. DA SILVA ALEXANDRE1, Y.A. DE OLIVEIRA DUARTE2, J.L. FERREIRA SANTOS3, R. WONG4, M.L. LEBRÃO1 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pindamonhangaba; 2. Department of MedicalSurgical Nursing, Nursing School, University of São Paulo, Brazil; 3. Department of Social Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; 4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, USA. Corresponding author: Tiago da Silva Alexandre, University of São Paulo, Epidemiology Department, Brazil, [email protected]

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in older residents in São Paulo, Brazil. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: São Paulo, Brazil. Participants: 1,149 older individuals from the second wave of the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE) study from 2006. Measurements: 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 ≤8.90kg/m 2 for men and ≤6.37kg/m 2 for women; low muscle strength, assessed by handgrip strength