Prognostic values of muscle mass assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis in older patients with heart failure

Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2022 Jun 25. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14424. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to compare bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in measuring skeletal muscle mass (MM), and its prognostic implications in old patients with heart failure.

METHODS: We prospectively evaluated MM measured by both BIA and DEXA in 226 hospitalized elderly (≥65 years) patients with heart failure. The cut-off values proposed by the Asian Working Group in Sarcopenia were used to define low MM. The prognostic endpoint was all-cause death.

RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 82 years (interquartile range: 75-87), and 51.8% of patients were men. According to the BIA and DEXA, 177 (78.3%) and 120 (53.1%) patients were diagnosed with low MM, respectively, and the two assessment tools showed poor agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient: 0.294). During the follow-up, 32 patients (14.2%) died; only low MM defined by DEXA (hazard ratio 2.45, 95% confidence interval 1.05-5.72, P = 0.039), but not BIA (hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.35-3.06, P = 0.955), was associated with poor prognosis after adjusting for pre-existing risk factors. Moreover, low MM defined by DEXA (net reclassification improvement: 0.58, P < 0.001), but not BIA (net reclassification improvement: -0.005, P = 0.975), provides incremental prognostic predictability when considered with pre-existing risk factors and brain natriuretic peptide level at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS: In elderly hospitalized patients with heart failure, low MM defined by DEXA and BIA show significant discordance. The MM defined by DEXA, but not BIA, provides additional prognostic value to pre-existing prognostic models. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; ••: ••-••.

PMID:35751442 | DOI:10.1111/ggi.14424