Screening Sarcopenia Correlates In Adults With Intellectual Disability

PURPOSE: To screen the sarcopenia scores in adults with an Intellectual Disability (ID) through the Ishii equation. METHODS: 73 participants with low and moderate ID (33 women, 42.2 ± 11.9y, 72.3 ± 14.0 kg) recruited from a workshop, participated after signing an informed consent by their legal guardians and an informed assent by themselves. The sarcopenia screening test (Ishii et al, 2014) was applied to calculate sarcopenia scores based on handgrip strength (HG), calf circumference (CC) and age, with equations validated for men (0.62 × (age − 64) − 3.09 × (HG − 50) − 4.64 × (CC - 42) and women (0.80 × (age − 64) − 5.09 × (HG − 34) − 3.28 × (CC − 42). Cut-points for defining sarcopenia are ≥105 for men and ≥ 120 for women. Moderate-Vigorous physical activity (MVPA), VO2peak, Timed-Up-Go test (TUGT) were assessed, too. RESULTS: VO2 = 25.36 ± 6,33 ml/kg/min; TUGT = 15.46 ± 3,09 sec; MVPA = 33.41 ± 24.57 min/day. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 34.2%. No correlations were found between sarcopenia scores and MVPA, VO2peak and TUGT when participants ≥40y, ≥50y, ≥60y were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed low VO2peak, MVPA and TUGT, as expected in people with ID. Sarcopenia prevalence is high considering that the sample included young participants. As persons with ID have low levels of strength and considering the early decline of this population, it could be important to screen the early appearance of sarcopenia in this population. The present findings suggest the need of prospective studies controlling sarcopenia along adulthood. REFERENCE: Ishii, S. et al. Development of a simple screening test for sarcopenia in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 14(Suppl 1), 93-101, https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.12197 (2014). Partially supported by MEC (Ref: DEP2012-35335)