Sr. Editor, La sarcopenia es una enfermedad muscular asociada al envejecimiento. Se caracteriza por el deterioro de la masa y de la fuerza muscular que transcurre gradualmente desde la cuarta década de vida (1). Los individuos con mayor riesgo de sarcopenia son aquellos con obesidad, comorbilidades como neoplasias, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, enfermedad cardiovascular, dieta pobre en proteínas, sedentarismo, entre otros. La sarcopenia es un importante problema de salud pública al asociarse a complicaciones como fracturas, fragilidad, depresión, hospitalizacióny mayor mortalidad; así como, generar una significativa carga de costos en salud (2).

Objective: To learn about the disagreements among geriatricians from a Latin American country (Peru) as to the palliative therapy for dementia. Materials and methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of Peruvian geriatricians and geriatrics residents surveyed during August 2019. A non-probability convenience sampling was used. Considering a total population of 277 geriatricians in Peru and a design effect of 1.0, the minimum sample size was 162 geriatricians. The survey included different questions focused on geriatricians’ decisions on the daily clinical practice of terminal care in dementia. To ensure a better understanding of the answers, a typical case of the disease was presented. Results: One hundred sixty-two (162) doctors were surveyed, most of whom were geriatricians (81.48 %). Regarding the global level of attitudes and knowledge of palliative...

Objective: To find out the benefits of a multimodal exercise program for muscle function improvement in older adults from the Hospital de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú in 2018. Materials and methods: An interventional, analytical, prospective and longitudinal study. A total of 66 patients were assessed, out of whom only 24 completed the six-month intervention period. Results: The patients’ median age was 75 ± 7.01. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which combines the results of the balance, gait speed and chair stand tests, had a positive impact on the intervention group and showed statistically significant results. No statistical significance was found in grip strength in kilograms or calf circumference measurement. Conclusions: The multimodal exercise program for older adults from the Peruvian Air Force has a positive impact on muscle function.

Objetivos: Conocer los beneficios de un programa de ejercicio multimodal para mejorar la función muscular en Adultos Mayores del hospital de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú en el 2018. Metodología: Estudio de intervención, analítico, prospectivo y longitudinal. Un total de 24 pacientes fueron incluidos. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 75±7.01 años. La Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tanto balance, velocidad de marcha y la prueba de la silla tuvo un impacto positivo en el grupo de intervención y fue estadísticamente significativo. No se encontró significancia estadística en la fuerza de presión en kilogramos ni en medición del diámetro de pantorrilla. Conclusiones: El programa de ejercicios multimodal en adultos mayores pertenecientes a la fuerza aérea del Perú tiene un impacto positivo en la función muscular.

Objective: To find out if decreased grip strength is associated with frailty and adverse outcomes at three-month follow-up. Materials and methods: A descriptive, observational and prospective study. Patients older than 59 years of age attending a day hospital were included in the research. The dominant hand grip strength was measured during an outpatient visit. Frailty was assessed using the Edmonton Frail Scale. The association between decreased grip strength, frailty and adverse outcomes at three-month follow-up was evaluated using the chi-square test and Student’s t-test.Results: Grip strength was measured in 82 older adults (out of whom 46 were females) whose mean age was 83.68 years. Based on the Edmonton Frail Scale, 83.33 % of the study subjects were severely frail, 87.87 % were moderately frail, 86.66 % were mildly frail and 46.66 % were vulnerable to frailty. According to this...

Objective: To determine the relationship between mortality and level of frailty using the Frailty Index–Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (FI–CGA) among older adults at a 12-month follow-up. Materials and methods: A descriptive, observational and prospective study with non-probabilistic sampling conducted with patients over 60 years of age from the Geriatrics Service. Using the FI–CGA, frailty was diagnosed if the score was greater than or equal to 0.2 at the different levels of care: acute care unit, day hospital, outpatient clinic and house call. Moreover, a follow-up was conducted 12 months following their telephone consultation. In case of death, the event and cause were confirmed in the Sistema Informático Nacional de Defunciones (SINADEF, National Death Computer System) of the Ministry of Health of Peru. Patients who died from coronavirus complications were excluded. To det...

Introduction: Older adults constitute those over 65 according to the WHO. Likewise, sociofamily risk and cognitive impairment have been related in patients from the geriatric center of the Peruvian air force in the period 2017-2020. Objectives: To determine the association between socio-family risk and cognitive impairment in patients treated at the HFAP geriatric center in the period 2017-2020. Methodology: Primary, observational, analytical, cross sectional, retrospective study carried out in patients treated at the geriatric center of the HFAP in the period 2017-2020. Results: 121 older adults were evaluated, with an average age of 84 years. 23.1% presented social risk, 41.3% presented cognitive deterioration. 30.6% had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 13.2% Parkinson's disease. No significant association was found between socio-familial risk (p=0.851) and suffering from cognitive impairm...

Sr. Editor, El adulto mayor es susceptible a varios cambios de composición corporal, como la pérdida de peso magro, la disminución de la altura y la redistribución del tejido graso. La obesidad es una morbilidad que aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, metabólicas y trastornos del aparato locomotor (1). En el Perú no hay suficientes estudios que analicen la asociación entre la sarcopenia y la obesidad, por lo que se plantea el siguiente estudio que tiene como objetivo determinar la asociación entre sarcopenia según el cuestionario SARC-F (del inglés Strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en adultos mayores.

Objective: To determine the association between the exposure to scuba diving during military service and the development of neurocognitive disorders in elderly people. Materials and methods: A retrospective analytical study, derived from the database analysis of the study "Fragility and functional dependence in older adults" conducted between 2010 and 2015 on an outpatient basis by the staff of the geriatrics service of the Centro Médico Naval del Perú (Peruvian Naval Medical Center). The chi-square test, p<0.05 and 95 % CI were used to establish said association, and the Poisson model was used as regression model. Results: A total of 1,020 participants were analyzed. Three hundred twenty-two (322 [42.42 %]) participants were between 71 and 80 years of age. Two hundred forty (240 [31.62 %]) had neurocognitive disorders. Factors associated with neurocognitive disorders were: age ran...

Objective: To describe the effects of the 5% lidocaine patch on the symptomatic relief of Peruvian patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Methods: Case series report of adult patients with post-herpetic neuralgia admitted to and treated at the Air Force Central Hospital in Lima. Symptomatic relief was defined as the difference between the specified pain score before and after patch treatment. The pain score was evaluated by the visual analogue scale and the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia scale, for patients with dementia. Results: Twenty-two patients with postherpetic neuralgia (mean age 74.4 ± 12.40 years) were recruited, 17 of whom began topical therapy with lidocaine following oral systemic treatment. The main reasons for the decision to change were a persistent pain and the adverse effects of the preceding therapy. A statistically significant decrease in pain symptoms was obser...