Evaluation of Factors Influencing Handgrip Strength Asymmetry in Older Peruvian Adults.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a musculoskeletal disease involving the reduction of muscle mass, strength, and performance. Handgrip strength (HGS) measurements included in frailty assessments are great biomarkers of aging and are related to functional deficits. We assessed the association between potential influencing factors and HGS asymmetry in older Peruvian adults. METHODS: We used a database of the Peruvian Naval Medical Center "Cirujano Santiago Távara" located in Callao, Peru. All the patients included were ≥60 years old and had an HGS measurement in the dominant and non-dominant hand. RESULTS: From a total of 1,468 patients, 74.66% had HGS asymmetry. After adjustment, calf circumference weakness (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.15), falls risk (aPR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02-1.16), and an altered Lawton index (aPR=0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-0.99) were associated with HGS asymmetry. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that HGS asymmetry should be measured along with other geriatric assessments used to evaluate health outcomes in the elderly to enhance health promotion and prevention aimed at preserving muscle strength to curb functional limitations in the elderly.

Enfermedad ultrarara frecuente en Perú: Reporte de casos del síndrome FATCO

El síndrome FATCO (fibular aplasia, tibial camptomelia, oligosyndactyly) está caracterizado por la presencia de anomalías en miembros inferiores. Es una enfermedad, de la cual no se ha precisado la etiología genética hasta la actualidad; sin embargo, se ha planteado que el tipo de herencia es dominante autosómica. La frecuencia de presentación a nivel global es muy rara y esta es la razón principal de los pocos pacientes publicados hasta la fecha. Existe un reporte de la presentación inusual de catorce pacientes peruanos, diagnosticados en un solo centro, con las características clínicas del síndrome FATCO en un período de 13 años. A la fecha, se han publicado catorce pacientes a nivel mundial, con los cuales se comparó y discutió los datos clínicos y radiológicos. Además, se analizaron las características demográficas, antecedentes familiares, sexo, edad y anomalías concomitantes.

The fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia, oligosyndactyly (FATCO) syndrome is characterized by the variable leg anomalies. The genetic etiology of this disease has not been determined to date; however, it has been suggested that the genetic inheritance is autosomal dominant. The frequency of presentation globally is infrequent and this is the main reason for the low number of patient reports. There's a report of the unusually high presentation of 14 peruvian patients diagnosed at a single center with the clinical features of FATCO syndrome over a 13-year period. We compare and discuss the clinical and radiological data of our patients with those of the 14 cases described worldwide. In addition, the demographic characteristics, family history, sex, age, and concomitant anomalies are analyzed.