Association between sarcopenia and history of fractures in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Evaluating the prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), verifying their association with a history of fractures and falls. Study model: Observational, cross-sectional, and analytical. Method: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Campina Grande, Paraíba. It included elderly patients (=60 years) with DM. Those with a diagnosis of osteoporosis were ex cluded. The predictor criterion for sarcopenia was calf circumference (CC): <33 cm for women and <34 cm for men. Results: The valid sample was 44 patients, all with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 20.4%. There was a statistically significant relationship between sarcopenia and history of fractures in low energy traumas (p=0.022). There was no difference between the groups with and without sarcopenia in relation to the history of falls in the last year (p=0.589). There was an association between the use of psychotropic drugs and the occurrence of falls (p=0.001). Most of the findings converged with those already present in the literature. Conclusion: Although CC is not an established method for the diagnosis of sarcopenia, muscle loss indicated by this measure has been associated with a history of fractures in the elderly with DM2, so that this accessible measurement can alert to initiate interventions that can improve the quality of life of the elderly.