Phase angle and its association with mucle quality, physical performance, and fall risk in elderly people: an integrative review

Phase Angle and Functional Health in Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Aging is associated with changes in muscle composition and function, increasing the occurrence of sarcopenia, reduced physical performance, and falls. The phase angle, obtained through electrical bioimpedance, has been investigated as a complementary measure of muscle condition in elderly people. Objective: To analyze the association between phase angle and muscle quality, physical performance, sarcopenia, and fall risk in elderly individuals. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase databases. Original studies with elderly individuals that assessed phase angle through bioelectrical impedance and its relationship with muscle quality, physical performance, sarcopenia, or falls were included. After the selection and eligibility stages, five studies were included in the synthesis. Results: Studies have demonstrated associations between phase angle and different aspects of musculoskeletal condition. Higher values were associated with better indicators of strength and physical performance, especially in measures involving the lower limbs. Associations were also observed with sarcopenia and with the recovery of gait after cardiovascular surgery. Regarding falls, the main association was observed with the segmental asymmetry of the phase angle of the lower limbs, and not with their absolute values. Conclusion: The phase angle shows potential as a complementary measure in the assessment of the muscular and functional condition of elderly people. However, its isolated use is not sufficient to diagnose sarcopenia or determine the risk of falls, and it is necessary to interpret it together with measures of strength, body composition, and physical performance.

Neurocitomas centrais são tumores do sistema nervoso central (SNC), cujo comportamento e evolução costumam ser benignos. Esses tumores usualmente ocorrem nos ventrículos laterais de indivíduos jovens. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 36 anos de idade, com uma lesão expansiva intraventricular ocasionando quadro de hidrocefalia e convulsões. O paciente foi submetido à ressecção incompleta da lesão. Apresentou hidrocefalia persistente no pós-operatório, necessitando de derivação ventrículo-peritoneal. A evolução foi favorável e o paciente recebeu alta para seguir acompanhamento ambulatorial. Exame anatomopatológico evidenciou neurocitoma central com confirmação através de imunohistoquímica. O objetivo deste relato é apresentar o caso de uma neoplasia rara, realizando uma revisão da literatura e mostrando sua importância, dado o prognóstico favorável.