Risk of Sarcopenia in Older People: Association with Illiteracy and Negative Self-Perception of Health

Authors

  • Alessandra Vieira Rocha Mestranda em Cuidado Primário a Saúde pela Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros(Unimontes), Montes Claros, MG. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0189-3806
  • Nadine Antunes Teixeira Mestranda em Cuidado Primário a Saúde pela Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros(Unimontes), Montes Claros, MG https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-2921
  • Amanda da Silva Santos Graduanda em Medicina pelo Centro Universitário FIPMoc – (UNIFIPMoc/Afya), Montes Claros, MG https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7335-748X
  • Alenice Aliane Fonseca Doutoranda em Saúde Pública pela Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4154-041X
  • Josiane Santos Brant Rocha Doutora em Ciência do Desporto pela Universidade Tráz os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD). Docente do Programa de Pós-graduação em Cuidado Primário a Saúde da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros(Unimontes), Montes Claros, MG https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7317-3880

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v1i1.2842

Keywords:

sarcopenia, self-perceived health, education, elderly health

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association between sociodemographic conditions, behavioral and health habits and the risk of sarcopenia in elderly individuals. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 277 elderly individuals assisted at a referral center in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. The risk of sarcopenia was assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire. Sociodemographic, behavioral and health perception aspects were assessed. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. It was observed that 48.4% (n=134) of the participants were at risk of sarcopenia. After adjustment, being illiterate (PR=1.49; 95% CI: 1.16–1.91) and having poor self-perceived health (PR=1.50; 95% CI: 1.06–2.14) were aspects associated with the risk of sarcopenia. A high prevalence of elderly individuals at risk of sarcopenia was found, associated with low education and poor self-perception of health. These findings highlight the importance of studies on sarcopenia in addition to the implementation of preventive strategies for the elderly population.

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2025-06-02

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Rocha, A. V., Teixeira, N. A., Santos, A. da S., Fonseca, A. A., & Rocha, J. S. B. (2025). Risk of Sarcopenia in Older People: Association with Illiteracy and Negative Self-Perception of Health. Revista Psicologia E Saúde, 17, e17112842. https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v1i1.2842

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v. 17, 2025

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