Impacto da sarcopenia no desfecho clínico de idosos internados em unidades de terapia intensiva: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Sarcopenia is characterized by the reduction of skeletal muscle strength and function, commonly found in elderly patients and often exacerbated in critically ill individuals admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU). This study aims to conduct an integrative literature review on the impact of sarcopenia on clinical outcomes in elderly ICU patients, focusing on mortality, complications, and length of stay. Data were collected from PubMed, LILACS, and Scielo, applying inclusion criteria of studies published in the last 10 years, in English and Portuguese, addressing the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes in elderly ICU patients. Four articles were included. Three studies found a statistically significant association between sarcopenia and the outcomes analyzed, while one article, focused on mechanical ventilation weaning failure, did not show a significant association. Different methods for assessing skeletal muscle mass across studies complicated comparisons. This review highlights the scarcity of research on the topic and emphasizes the need for standardized studies to obtain reliable data that guide early interventions and therapeutic strategies.