Dynapenia in climacteric women: prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Climacteric is a significant period in a woman's life, marked by hormonal decline and bodily changes such as declining muscle strength, which increases the risk of falls, fractures, and mortality, impacting quality of life. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with dynapenia in climacteric women. Methods: This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, and analytical study, with probabilistic sampling, conducted with climacteric women treated at the Family Health Strategies of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, between August and October 2024. The variables included sociodemographic factors, gynecological-obstetric characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and physical fitness assessment. The outcome variable, dynapenia, was assessed by measuring handgrip strength. The association between the studied variables and the presence of dynapenia was verified by bivariate analysis followed by Poisson regression, with robust variance, in a hierarchical model. Results: Of the 533 women evaluated, 43.9% presented dynapenia. The condition remained associated with factors such as having a partner, above-median body fat percentage, and below-median performance on the push-up test. On the other hand, body mass index proved to be a protective factor against dynapenia. Conclusion: A high prevalence of dynapenia and its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors were found. Understanding the determinants of dynapenia during menopause is essential for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies to promote health and quality of life.