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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Obesity | Research

Cutoff points of adiposity anthropometric indices for low muscle mass screening in middle-aged and older healthy women

Authors: Rafaela Andrade do Nascimento, Mariana Carmem Apolinário Vieira, Rafaella Silva dos Santos Aguiar Gonçalves, Mayle Andrade Moreira, Maria Socorro Medeiros de Morais, Saionara Maria Aires da Câmara, Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti Maciel

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

The reduction of female sex hormones causes changes in the contractile properties of muscles as well as infiltration of fat in the muscle tissue. This results in a consequent decline in muscle strength. These changes are related to higher levels of functional impairment and physical disability. In this sense, several anthropometric indices have been used to quantify body and visceral fat. Thus, the objective of this paper is to propose cutoff points for adiposity anthropometric indices in order to identify low muscle mass, as well as to analyze the relationship between these indices and low muscle mass in middle-aged and older women.

Methods

Cross-sectional analytical study carried out in the Northeast of Brazil. The sample was formed by 593 women between 40—80 years old. Data collection included anthropometric assessment (BMI: Body Mass Index – WC: Waist Circumference – WHR: Waist-to-hip Ratio – WHtR: Waist-to-height Ratio – CI: Conicity Index – BAI: Body Adiposity Index – VAI: Visceral Adiposity Index – LAP: Lipid Accumulation Product), bioimpedance test and biochemical dosage. Moreover, sociodemographic data and practice of physical activity were collected. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ROC curves, chi-squared and logistic regression were performed.

Results

The participants had a mean age of 53.11 (8.89) years, BMI of 28.49 (5.17) kg/m2 and WC of 95.35 (10.39). The prevalence of low muscle mass was 19.4%. Based on sensitivity and specificity of adiposity anthropometric indices, cutoff points were developed to identify the presence of low muscle mass (p < 0.05), except for VAI. After logistic regression, WC (OR = 6.2; CI 95%: 1.4—28.1), WHR (OR = 1.8; CI: 1.0—3.4), WHtR (OR = 5.0; CI 95%: 1.0—23.7) and BAI (OR = 14.5; CI 95%: 6.6—31.7) were associated with low muscle mass.

Conclusions

All anthropometric indices, except VAI, showed adequate accuracy in identifying low muscle mass in women, especially those that took into account WC. This suggests that they can become accessible and also be cost-effective strategies for assessing and managing health outcomes related to muscle mass analysis.
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Metadata
Title
Cutoff points of adiposity anthropometric indices for low muscle mass screening in middle-aged and older healthy women
Authors
Rafaela Andrade do Nascimento
Mariana Carmem Apolinário Vieira
Rafaella Silva dos Santos Aguiar Gonçalves
Mayle Andrade Moreira
Maria Socorro Medeiros de Morais
Saionara Maria Aires da Câmara
Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti Maciel
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Obesity
Obesity
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04532-x

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