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Erschienen in:
02.06.2016
Appendicular lean mass and mortality among prefrail and frail older adults
Erschienen in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging | Ausgabe 3/2017
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Objective
Prefrail and frail older adults are a heterogeneous population. The measurement of appendicular lean mass (ALM) may distinguish those at higher versus lower risk of poor outcomes. We examined the relationship between ALM and mortality among prefrail and frail older adults.
Design
This was a population-based cohort study.
Setting
The Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III; 1988-1994).
Participants
Older adults (age ≥65 years) with pre-frailty or frailty defined using the Fried criteria.
Measurements
ALM was quantified using bioimpedance analysis. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis examined the relationship between ALM and mortality. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine if ALM added to age and sex improved the predictive discrimination of five-year and ten-year mortality.
Results
At baseline, the average age was 74.9 years, 66.7% were female, 86.3% and 13.7% were prefrail and frail, respectively. The mean ALM was 18.9 kg [standard deviation (SD): 5.5]. During a median 8.9 years of follow-up, 1,307 of 1,487 study participants died (87.9%). Higher ALM was associated with a lower risk of mortality. In a multivariable-adjusted regression model that accounted for demographic, behavioral, clinical, physical function, and frailty characteristics, each SD increase in ALM was associated with an 50% lower risk of mortality [Hazard Ratio: 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.92); P=0.026]. The addition of ALM to age and sex improved the predictive discrimination of five-year (P=0.027) and ten-year (P=0.016) mortality.
Conclusion
ALM distinguishes the risk of mortality among prefrail and frail older adults. Additional research examining ALM as a therapeutic target is warranted.