# Tongue pressure in sarcopenic and dynapenic elderly

## TL;DR

This study found that older adults with sarcopenia and dynapenia often have reduced tongue pressure, with worse outcomes in those with sarcopenia.

## Contribution

The study is among the first to explore the relationship between sarcopenia/dynapenia and tongue pressure in elderly populations.

## Key findings

- 58.6% of participants had low tongue pressure, with 88.2% of them aged 70-79 years.
- Sarcopenic individuals showed a higher decline in tongue pressure (65.2%) compared to dynapenic individuals (40%).
- A significant positive correlation was found between handgrip strength and tongue pressure in the 70-79 age group.

## Abstract

We aimed to describe tongue pressure in sarcopenic and dynapenic older adults.

An exploratory observational cross-sectional study was performed. Data were gathered from 29 institutionalized older adults (over 60 years old) and several methods were used in order to assess sarcopenia - handgrip strength (dynamometer), muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis and calf circumference); physical performance (Short Physical Performance Balance); and tongue pressure (PLL Pró-Fono). For descriptive analysis, means and medians were described for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies were described for qualitative variables. In the inferential analysis, Pearson's and Spearman's coefficients were used for correlation measurements and Chi-square and Fisher’s were used for association, 5% significance level.

Most patients were female (79.31%), with a median age of 81 years (IQR 12). Regarding diagnosis, 79.31% were sarcopenic, 17.24% were dynapenic and 3.45% did not present sarcopenia. Fifty-eight point six percent of patients presented low tongue pressure, being 88.2% aged 70-79 years old. Among sarcopenic older adults, 65.2% showed a decline in tongue pressure, while 40% showed similar results in the dynapenic group. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between handgrip and tongue pressure in the 70-79 years age group (p=0.03). With regards to women, there was an association between tongue pressure and sarcopenia (p=0.039) and a positive correlation between tongue pressure and handgrip (p=0.003).

A decline in tongue strength was observed in the two studied groups, with worse outcomes in sarcopenic older adults.

Descrever pressão de língua em idosos com sarcopenia e dinapenia.

Estudo observacional, exploratório, de delineamento transversal. Coletaram-se dados de 29 idosos institucionalizados (>60 anos) e realizou-se avaliação de sarcopenia – força de preensão manual (dinamômetro), massa muscular (bioimpedância elétrica e circunferência de panturrilha) e de desempenho físico - e de pressão de língua. Na análise descritiva, utilizaram-se as médias e medianas para as variáveis quantitativas e frequências absolutas e relativas para as qualitativas. Na análise inferencial, utilizou-se Pearson ou Spearman para os testes de correlação e Qui-quadrado ou Fisher para os de associação, nível de significância de 5%.

A amostra se caracterizou por ser predominantemente feminina (79,31%), com idade mediana de 81 anos (QI=12). Identificou-se que 79,31% eram sarcopênicos, 17,24% dinapênicos e 3,45% sem sarcopenia. De toda amostra, 58,6% apresentaram baixa pressão de língua, sendo 88,2% com idade entre 70 e 79 anos. No grupo de idosos sarcopênicos, 65,2% apresentaram declínio na pressão de língua e no grupo dos dinapênicos, 40%. Observou-se correlação positiva e estatisticamente significante entre força de preensão manual e pressão de língua nos idosos entre 70 e 79 anos (p=0,03). No grupo das mulheres, ocorreu associação entre pressão de língua e sarcopenia (p=0,039) e correlação positiva entre pressão de língua e preensão manual (p=0,003).

O declínio da pressão de língua foi observado nos dois grupos estudados, sendo identificado pior desfecho no grupo com sarcopenia.