Dynapenic obesity: A disregarded disease that affects functionality and nutrition of the older patients

Özet

Objective: Dynapenia is the age-associated loss of muscle strength without neuro-logical or muscular disease. It is associated with physical dependence, low physical performance, falls, cognitive impairment and increased mortality in older adults. Obesity incidence increases rapidly in older adults, but in the literature, there are lim-ited studies on dynapenic obesity and its complications. We aimed to determine the frequency of dynapenia in geriatric obese patients, examine the effect of dynapenic obesity on the functionality and the nutritional state and increase awareness of dy-napenic obesity.Materials and Methods:177 obese geriatric patients admitted to geriatrics and endo-crinology clinics divided into two groups as dynapenic or non-dynapenic according to last diagnostic criteria, depending on handgrip strength. Demographic and labo-ratory data, Activities of daily living, Instrumental Activities of Daily-Living, Mini-Nutritional Assessment, body mass index, and handgrip strength were investigated. Differences between the two groups were analysed by the SPSS 20.0 program.Results: 17.5% of the subjects had dynapenia. Dynapenic geriatric patients were older (p=0.028), had lower mini-nutritional test scores (p= 0.009), activities of daily living (p=0.007), instrumental activities of daily living (p <0.001), creatinine levels (p=0.023), and albumin levels (p=0.049).Conclusion: Dynapenic obesity is associated with worse functionality and malnutri-tion. Realising the natural history of patients with dynapenia and obesity is critical-ly needed.