Association of sleep disturbances with sarcopenia and its defining components: the ELSA-Brasil study

Author(s)

Szlejf, C. ^[1] ; Suemoto, C. K. ^{[1, 2]} ; Drager, L. F. ^{[1, 3]} ; Griep, R. H. ^[4] ; Fonseca, M. J. M. ^[5] ; Diniz, M. F. H. S. ^[6] ; Lotufo, P. A. ^{[1, 7]} ; Benseaor, I. M. ^{[1, 7]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Univ, Ctr Pesquisa Clin & Epidemiol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Div Geriatria, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin, Fac Med, Inst Coracao, Unidade Hipertensao, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Lab Educ Ambiente & Saude, Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[5] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Dept Epidemiol & Metodos Quantitativos Saude, Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Fac Med, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Med Interna, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 54, n. 12 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Sarcopenia and sleep problems share common physiopathology. We aimed to investigate the association of sleep disturbances with sarcopenia and its defining components in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults. In this cross-sectional analysis of the second wave of the ELSA-Brasil study, we included data from 7948 participants aged 50 years and older. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by hand-grip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. Sleep duration and insomnia complaint were self-reported. Short sleep duration was considered as ≤6 h/night and long sleep duration as >8 h/night. High risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was assessed using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Possible confounders included socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, clinical comorbidities, and use of sedatives and hypnotics. The frequencies of sarcopenia, low muscle mass, and low muscle strength were 1.6, 21.1, and 4.1%, respectively. After adjustment for possible confounders, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle mass (OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.92-2.45). Among obese participants, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle strength (OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.64). However, neither short nor long sleep duration or frequent insomnia complaint were associated with sarcopenia or its defining components. In conclusion, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle mass in the whole sample and with low muscle strength among obese participants. Future studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between both conditions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/23496-8 - Impact of sleep disorders on hypertension: a multifaceted approach
• Grantee: Luciano Ferreira Drager
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants