Association between sarcopenia with lifestyle and family function among community-dwelling Chinese aged 60 years and older

Abstract

BackgroundSarcopenia is defined as the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. The risk factors and causes of sarcopenia must be identified to develop prevention and treatment strategies for this syndrome. Our aim was to examine the association between sarcopenia with lifestyle and family function among community-dwelling Chinese people aged 60 years and older.MethodsWe conducted this study to evaluate sarcopenia among 834 community-dwelling Chinese individuals aged ≥60 years using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. The sociodemographic characteristics, food consumption patterns, habits of smoking, and alcohol consumption of the participants were collected using a general questionnaire, whereas physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; long-form version). Family function was assessed using the Family APGAR scale. In addition, the association of sarcopenia with lifestyle and family function was examined using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsThe total prevalence rate of sarcopenia was 10.6%. Female participants with sarcopenia had a lower frequency per week of nut consumption than those without sarcopenia (p < 0.05), whereas, for male participants, the differences in food consumption patterns of those with sarcopenia versus those without sarcopenia were not significant. Among the participants, the mean Family APGAR score was 8 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.92). For both sexes, participants with sarcopenia had lower family function scores than those without sarcopenia. In the multivariate model, after adjustment for all covariates, frequency per week of nut consumption (adjusted OR 0.724, 95% CI 0.532–0.985, P < 0.05) and Family APGAR score (adjusted OR 0.683, 95% CI 0.496–0.940, P = 0.019) were statistically significantly associated with sarcopenia. The relationship between other lifestyle habits and sarcopenia was not significant.ConclusionThere was significant association between sarcopenia with intake of nuts and family function. Further studies should evaluate if adequate intake of nuts and a well-functioning family may be effective in lowering the risk of sarcopenia.

Myoprotective Whole Foods, Muscle Health and Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review of Observational and Intervention Studies in Older Adults

“…Of these, three studies examined the relationship between meat intake (red meats, poultry, and processed meats) and muscle mass and function [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]; five examined the intake of fruit and vegetables in relation to sarcopenia and muscle function [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and eight studies investigated the link between multiple whole foods and various muscle-related outcomes [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. The individual whole foods were: fatty fish, white fish and shellfish, legumes, soy, nuts and seeds, eggs, and the components of the Nordic Dietary Score (NDS), including Nordic cereal (rye, oats, barley) [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Three studies investigated the association between dairy intake (including yogurt and cheeses) and muscle mass and function [ 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…To assess diet, ten studies used food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) [ 24 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 38 ], four studies employed diet histories [ 21 , 23 , 25 , 39 ], one used 3-day diet record [ 36 ], one 24-h dietary recall [ 22 ], two used lifestyle questionnaire [ 26 , 32 ], and one study used a single question for a specific food group [ 28 ]. Muscle-related outcomes varied across the studies; six examined muscle mass (total, lean, appendicular, skeletal muscle index, etc.)…”

Status of tuberculosis‐related stigma and associated factors: a cross‐sectional study in central China

“…However, in comparison with the Chinese general population, the family APGAR score of TB patients was lower. For example, Cheng et al reported that the family APGAR score was 8.08 (SD = 2.18) for 1052 adult residents aged 15 years and older in Hubei Province [27], and Hai et al showed that the score was 8.00 (SD = 0.92) for 834 community-dwelling Chinese individuals aged ≥60 years [28]. This illustrates that TB patients' family function is somewhat impaired, and improving it would be an effective strategy to combat their stigma.…”

Family function fully mediates the relationship between social support and depression among antenatal and postpartum women in rural Southwest China

“…It was generally believed that score 0-3 indicated severe family dysfunction, 4-6 indicated moderate family dysfunction, and 7-10 indicated good family function. The Chinese version of APGAR has been widely applied in China with excellent validity and reliability [42,43]. In this research, Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.874.…”