Fat mass to fat- free mass ratio and body composition in participants with chronic leg problems

Abstract

Background & aim: Low fat-free mass (FFM) or high fat mass (FM) in older adults are abnormal body composition phenotypes associated with morbidity. The dual burden of excessive FM and low FFM may lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular and other diseases and disability and lower physical performance compared with individuals with normal body composition or low FFM or high FM alone. Both conditions lead to poorer health and can be identified by a high FM/FFM ratio. Because few studies have examined the effects of abnormal body composition using the FM/FFM ratio, the aim of this study is to determine the FM/FFM values by gender in patients with knee and hip pathologies and compare them with body composition parameters. This condition is important when surgery is required because abnormal body composition leads to an increase in infections and other postoperative complications. Methods: A total of 93 participants aged 64.71 ± 7.71 years in women and 65.9 ± 9.9 years in men with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were recruited from the Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital (Ankaran, Slovenia). The waist circumference (WC) and anthropometric data (BMI), as well as body composition data (FM, FFM, % of body water, estimated by bioelectrical impedance - BIA) were measured. In addition, the body composition phenotypes (FM/FFM ratio) were calculated. Results: The FM/FFM index was higher in females. The female group with FM/FFM (0.68) and those with a higher FM/FFM (0.92) correlated positively with WC. Male participants were excluded for further analysis because only two males had FM/FFM > 0.80. The FM/FFM of the remaining male participants was 0.53 ± 0.09. Conclusions: FM/FFM provide information on patient body composition and identify individuals at risk of body composition abnormalities in women only.