Dynapenic abdominal obesity is related to cardiovascular risk in older adults with Parkinson's disease: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Currently, the impact of nutritional status in Parkinson's disease over the cardiovascular risk is poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate dynapenic abdominal obesity and its influence in anthropometric parameters of cardiovascular risk in older patients with Parkinson's disease.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving outpatients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in two treatment centers in northeast of Brazil. We included patients who aged 60 years and older. The data was collected from January to July of 2019. For abdominal obesity, waist circumference was used. For dynapenia, Handgrip Strength was measured. Dynapenic abdominal obesity was established as the coexistence of dynapenia and abdominal obesity.

RESULTS: The dynapenic abdominal obesity occurred in 25% of the patients and was higher in women (p = 0.073). The dynapenic abdominal obesity group had a decreased muscle strength, higher values of Body Mass Index, a worse Waist Height Ratio; increased values of Fat Mass and percentual of Fat Mass and an increased value of Conicity Index (p < 0,05).

CONCLUSION: The occurrence of dynapenic abdominal obesity in our population was related to the worsening of anthropometric values of cardiovascular risk. From our results we can suggest that the early identification of the coexistence of nutritional disorders, such as dynapenia and abdominal obesity can help in the appropriate intervention to mitigate the risks related to adverse events.