Multimorbidity is associated with phase angle among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

Background

This study aimed to clarify the association between multimorbidity and phase angle (PhA), a measure of cell membrane integrity and overall health status, in community-dwelling older adults, stratified into early (65–74 years) and late older (≥75 years) adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 166 participants from the Health Check Program. The PhA, as the primary outcome, was measured using a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Skeletal muscle mass, hand grip strength, isometric knee extension strength, usual gait speed, and presence or absence of sarcopenia and frailty were assessed as secondary outcomes. Sarcopenia and frailty were diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria and the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria, respectively. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of two or more chronic diseases. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between multimorbidity and outcomes.

Results

Of 166 participants, 152 were included in the analyses. In participants aged 75 years and older, multimorbidity was significantly associated with the lower extremity PhA (β = -0.17, B = -0.25, 95 % confidence interval: -0.44 to -0.05, p = 0.011), but not with other outcomes even after adjustment for potential confounders. In contrast, in participants aged 65 to 74 years, multimorbidity was not significantly associated with all outcomes after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusion

Multimorbidity is associated with the lower extremity PhA but not with the upper extremity PhA, upper and lower extremity muscle strength, or physical function in community-dwelling older adults aged ≥75 years.