Interest of a Tongue Strength Measurement in the Screening for Sarcopenia in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

Interest of a Tongue Strength Measurement in the Screening for Sarcopenia in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and function that increases the risk of physical dependence, impaired quality of life and mortality. This is a major public health problem. Indeed, its prevalence has been estimated at 63.8% for elderly patients hospitalized in acute geriatric unit.

Several methods of sarcopenia screening exist at present. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) proposes to carry out three examinations for the diagnosis of sarcopenia: the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) test and two motor tests (walking speed and hand test). These measurements have already been evaluated and validated. They are reliable, inexpensive and easily achievable in clinical routine.

Recent studies have shown that decreased muscle mass and / or strength could be associated with dysphagia. Indeed, many muscles of the head and neck are simultaneously solicited for swallowing coordination. This suggests that a reduction in the mass or strength of these muscles could impact the swallowing function. The investigator's hypothesize that loss of lingual muscle strength may be associated with sarcopenia. The study will measure the tongue strength using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) in a geriatric population with or without sarcopenia.

• Determine the incidence of lingual hypotonia in hospitalized elderly sarcopenia patients.
• To compare the sensitivity, the specificity of the measurement of the force of the tongue with the usual measures proposed by the EWGSOP in the context of screening for sarcopenia.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients hospitalized in an acute geriatric unit within the CHU Brugmann.

Exclusion Criteria:

None