Studies investigating the association between the phase angle (PA) and frailty are scarce. The PA is considered a practical, low-cost, noninvasive measure for the early identification of this clinical condition. To investigate the association between PA and frailty/pre-frailty, nutritional and clinical aspects in older people. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 51 older people (≥ 60 years). PA was determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Frailty profile was determined using the criteria of unintentional weight loss, self-reported fatigue, slow gait speed, low grip strength and insufficient physical activity. Nutritional status was evaluated based on the body mass index and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI). Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were also investigated. Sociodemographic data were collected through interviews. Prevalence of frailty/pre-frailty was 84.3%, with no difference between the sexes. The first tercile of the sample had a PA lower than 6º, which was considered low. No significant difference in PA was found between older people with or without frailty/pre-frailty. In the multiple linear regression analysis, age and ASMMI were shown to be potential independent predictors for PA. Age showed an inverse correlation with PA, while ASMMI showed a direct correlation. No association was found between PA and frailty or pre-frailty.

Objective: to investigate the factors associated with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) in community-dwelling older people. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community-based study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the cutoff points of hand grip strength (HGS), and SO was identified through a low HGS concomitant with a high body fat percentage, according to sex, determined using electrical bioimpedance. Calorie and protein intake was estimated using a 24-hour recall. Socio-demographic data were obtained by means of an interview and the level of physical activity was assessed using a specific instrument. Results: Prevalence of 43% and 19.6% were observed for sarcopenia and SO, respectively. Older people aged ≥ 70 years have a significantly higher risk for sarcopenia in 183% (PR = 2.83; 95% CI = [1.62 to 4.96]; p value < 0.001) compared to those aged 60 to 69 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in males, among those who contribute to family support, present comorbidities and are less physically active. The prevalence of SO and sarcopenia was high, but this study did not allow us to observe statistically significant associations. Calorie and protein intakes were predominantly inadequate throughout the sample, however, there was no association with sarcopenia and SO. Conclusion: Advance years of life was shown to be a factor associated with sarcopenia, and with SO. Contributing to family support and insufficient physical activity were determining conditions for the occurrence of sarcopenia.

Objective: determine the extent to which each criterion of the frailty phenotype (either alone or grouped) contributes to the emergence of the syndrome in older people. Methods: observational and analytical study was conducted with 219 male and female older people in outpatient care. The evaluation of frailty syndrome was based on the phenotype proposed by Fried et al., the criteria of which are unintentional weight loss, self-reported fatigue, low grip strength, insufficient physical activity and slow gait. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the influence of each criterion of the phenotype alone or grouped. Results: a total of 219 individuals participated in the study. The most common frailty criterion was slowness in both frail and pre-frail individuals. Pre-frail individuals with slow gait were 9.42-fold more likely to become frail (OR = 9.42, 95%CI: 7.27-13.40, p = 0.001). The model with all five criteria explained 99.5% of frailty in the sample. Conclusion: slow gait was the most frequent frailty criterion in frail and pre-frail individuals. Therefore, this criterion seems to be the best predictor of frailty in older people and warrants close observation on the part of healthcare providers.