2. Comparison of body composition, muscle force and physical performances between faller and non-faller people included in a cohort of 100 community dwelling volunteers; The GABI Study
S Gillain1, C Schwartz2, V Wojtasik1, M Demonceau3, N Dardenne4, C Beaudart4, F Buckinx4,
O Bruyère4, JY Reginster4, G Garraux5, J Petermans1
Backgrounds: Sarcopenia leads to fall. The aim of this work is to detect components of sarcopenia associated with fall among older people.
Method: At baseline body composition was measured using a bioelectrical impedance device (BodyStat® ), grip strength, fatigue resistance and grip work were assessed using a Martin’s Vigorimeter 1 and comfortable and fast walking speed were manually measured in a 30-meter straight corridor. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.3. Mean values were compared by ANOVA. Results were considered statistically significant at the 5% critical level (p < 0.05). 1.Bautmans I, BMC Geriatrics, 2007,7:5
Results: 100 community-dwelling olders, including 56 women, were recruited. Among these, 23 volunteers have already fallen during the year before (including 17 women), mean age was 70.6 ± 5.67 years, mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.2 ± 4.01 and mean short Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score was ± (/14). Significant differences between fallers (F) and non fallers (NF) are presented in the table below.
Age, BMI, MNA, comorbidities, Geriatric Depression Scale score, physical activity level, autonomy in daily live, cognitive performances and the number of sedative drugs were similar in the two groups. Only the sex (74 % of women in F and 39% in NF), the number of antidepressant drugs (0,39 in F and 0,12 in NF) and the fear of falling score/64 (22 in F and 19 in NF) were statistically different between F and NF.
Discussion: In this cohort, F present a lower lean mass, a higher fat mass, a lower grip strength, a lower mean grip work and lower walking speeds than NF. According to the good similarity of the two groups, sarcopenia components appear linked to falls in olders. The next two-years-follow up will allows to check if these relations are also prospective associations helping the clinician to better detect people at risk of falling and to target outcomes to improve during fall prevention programs.
Conclusion: Sarcopenia components such as muscle mass, muscle force and walking speed seem to be linked to fall occurrence.
Variables
Fallers (F) (n=23)
Non Fallers (NF) (n=77)
p-value
Mean % of lean mass (SD)
64,78 (7,63)
69,43 (7,30)
0,0094
Mean % of fat mass (SD)
35,22 (7,63)
30,57 (7,30)
Mean grip strength in Kpa (SD)
52,26 (14,86)
63,57 (15,78)
0,0029
Mean fatigue resistance in sec (SD)
40.64 (19,87)
52.44 (28,14)
0,064
Mean grip work (Kpa X sec) (SD)
(1024.1)
(1578.8)
0,011
Mean comfortable speed in m/sec (SD)
1,18 (0,16)
1,28 (0,18)
0,021
Mean fast speed in m/sec (SD)
1,55 (0,22)
1,69 (0,22)
0,0051
The GABI Study for Gait Analysis and Brain Imagery Study; to contact us:
1. Geriatric Department,2. Laboratory of Human Motion Analysis (LAMH), 3. Science of motility Department, 4. Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 5. Neurologic Department, University hospital and University of Liège, Belgium