Abstract

Author(s): Marianny de Siqueira VASCONCELOS1, Flávia de Seabra TREVISAN1, Elda Silva AUGUSTO DE ANDRADE1,2, Laurindo Ferreira da Rocha JUNIOR2, Maria Josemere de Oliveira BORBA1,2

Introduction: Patients with diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are especially predisposed to develop sarcopenia in light of the underlying pro-inflammatory state and decreased muscle use due to inactivity and pain.

Objective: To verify the correlation of sarcopenia risk with nutritional status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis assisted at a referral center in the Northeast.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 114 patients aged between 18 and 85 years. Clinical information and anthropometric data were collected, and functional capacity was assessed using the SARC-F instrument along with handgrip strength (HGS). A probable sarcopenia was adopted with the SARC-F score with risk and inadequate HGS.

Results: The mean age found in the group of adults was 41.89 (± 12.02, SD), while in the group of elderly people, this mean was 70.05 (± 8.47SD). There is a prevalence of overweight of 57.89% in adults and eutrophic in the elderly 36.84%. The SARC-F risk assessment of sarcopenia together with an HGS identified possible sarcopenia in 34.06% in the adult group. In the elderly, a very strong correlation was found between the variable SARC-F and HGS (r = 1,000) p = 0.000.

Conclusion: There is a prevalence of overweight in adults, and prevalence of normal weight in the elderly group. About the strength of manual pressure, there is evidence of decreased muscle strength in the population studie