Ricardo Aurélio Carvalho Sampaio

Arterial stiffness is associated with low skeletal muscle mass in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.

To examine whether arterial stiffness, measured by the cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI), is associated with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in Japanese community‐dwelling older adults.

Validation and translation of the Kihon Checklist (frailty index) into Brazilian Portuguese

To translate the Japanese Kihon Checklist (frailty index) into the Portuguese language, and to validate the use of the checklist for the assessment of the elderly Brazilian population.

Systematic review of the Kihon Checklist: Is it a reliable assessment of frailty?

To investigate whether the Kihon Checklist (KCL) can predict frailty and disability.

Differences in lifestyle, physical performance and quality of life between frail and robust Brazilian community-dwelling elderly women.

To investigate the lifestyles, physical performance and quality of life (QOL) of frail and robust Brazilian community‐dwelling older women, and to identify risk factors for frailty.

Sarcopenia Is Associated with High Pulse Pressure in Older Women

Introduction. Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome associated with impairment of muscle function, metabolism, and cognition in older women. Recent studies have shown a relationship between changes in muscle mass and the cardiovascular system. However, this relationship has not been fully elucidated. Methods. One hundred and thirty community-dwelling Brazilian older women (65.4 ± 6.3 years) were recruited to participate in this study. Data on body composition (via bioelectrical impedance measurements), cardiovascular parameters (using an automatic and noninvasive monitor), and muscle function (using a 3-meter gait speed test) were measured. Results. Sarcopenic older women (n = 43) presented higher levels of pulse pressure (PP) (60.3 ± 2.6 mmHg) and lower muscle function (0.5 ± 0.0 m/s) compared with nonsarcopenic subjects (n = 87) (53.7 ± 1.5 mmHg; 0.9 ± 0.0 m/s) (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significantly negative association between skeletal muscle index (SMI) and PP levels (β = −226, P < 0.05). Furthermore, sarcopenic older women showed a 3.1-fold increased risk of having higher PP levels compared with nonsarcopenic women (IC = 1.323–7.506) (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Sarcopenic older women showed lower muscle function and higher cardiovascular risk due to increased PP levels compared with nonsarcopenic subjects.

Self-reported quality of sleep is associated with bodily pain, vitality and cognitive impairment in Japanese older adults

Poor sleep can affect physical and mental health, and consequently peoples quality of life (QOL); however, only a few studies have addressed the potential associations of physical and mental health with quality of sleep (QOS) in Japan. The present study aimed to investigate the association of QOS with sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, cognitive status, nutrition, depression, seclusion, and QOL in Japanese community‐dwelling older adults.

Cutoffs and cardiovascular risk factors associated with neck circumference among community-dwelling elderly adults: a cross-sectional study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In elderly people, measurement of several anthropometric parameters may present complications. Although neck circumference measurements seem to avoid these issues, the cutoffs and cardiovascular risk factors associated with this parameter among elderly people remain unknown. This study was developed to identify the cutoff values and cardiovascular risk factors associated with neck circumference measurements among elderly people. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in two community centers for elderly people. METHODS: 435 elderly adults (371 women and 64 men) were recruited. These volunteers underwent morphological evaluations (body mass index and waist, hip, and neck circumferences) and hemodynamic evaluations (blood pressure values and heart rate). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the predictive validity of cutoff values for neck circumference, for identifying overweight/obesity. Multivariate analysis was used to identify cardiovascular risk factors associated with large neck circumference. RESULTS: Cutoff values for neck circumference (men = 40.5 cm and women = 35.7 cm), for detection of obese older adults according to body mass index, were identified. After a second analysis, large neck circumference was shown to be associated with elevated body mass index in men; and elevated body mass index, blood pressure values, prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in women. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that neck circumference can be used as a screening tool to identify overweight/obesity in older people. Moreover, large neck circumference values may be associated with cardiovascular risk factors.

Thera-band® elastic band tension: reference values for physical activity

[Purpose] The aim of this technical note was to report significant differences in the tension forces of the different-sized Thera-band® elastic bands (Hygenic Corp.) determined by us versus the manufacturer. [Subjects] Two trained observers performed all measurements. [Methods] The tension force (kilogram-force units) of eight color-coded elastic bands (tan, yellow, red, green, blue, black, silver, and gold) with different resistance levels was measured at 10 different percentages of elongation (25% to 250% with 25% increments) using an electronic elongation gauge tensiometer. [Results] There were significant differences in the tension force of the elastic bands of different colors when compared in pairs (excepting the tan/yellow pair) at 100% and 200% elongation, as determined via one-way analysis of variance. There were no differences in the slopes for the tan versus yellow and green versus blue bands, as determined via linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance. Comparison of the tension force values obtained in our study with the reference values of the manufacturer (the t-test applied to the slopes) showed significant differences for five colors (yellow, green, blue, silver, and gold). [Conclusion] Our results indicate that the tension force values for Thera-Band elastic bands provided by the manufacturer are overestimates.

Comparison of frailty among Japanese, Brazilian Japanese descendants and Brazilian community-dwelling older women

To investigate frailty in Japanese, Brazilian Japanese descendants and Brazilian older women.

Importance of Physical Performance and Quality of Life for Self-Rated Health in Older Japanese Women

ABSTRACT Our study aimed to investigate the physical performance and quality of life (QOL) as associated factors with self-rated health (SRH). Japanese community-dwelling women aged 65 years or more (n = 51; mean age = 75.3 ± 6.0) answered a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic information, SRH, QOL by the Short Form-8, and performed the physical tests, such as Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach (FR), One Leg Stand (OLS), Five Chair Stands (CS), and hand grip strength (HGS). Smoking (p = 0.04), more medical consultations (p = 0.03), and more number of medications (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with poor self-assessment of their health. Moreover, those who assessed their health condition as not so good to bad condition had lower performance in FR (p = 0.02), HGS (p = 0.04), OLS (p = 0.05), and CS (p = 0.02), and poorer QOL condition in general health (p < 0.01), bodily pain (p = 0.02), and vitality (p = 0.03) in comparison with the other SRH groups (good and/or normal). Therefore, we encouraged the use of the SRH assessment and the interpretation of its results based on the present findings such as associating the SRH of older women with their physical performance and QOL.