Predicting Functional Capacity From Measures of Muscle Mass in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Menopause increases body fat and decreases muscle mass and strength, which contribute to sarcopenia. The amount of appendicular muscle mass has been frequently used to diagnose sarcopenia. Different measures of appendicular muscle mass have been proposed. However, no studies have compared the most salient measure (appendicular muscle mass corrected by body fat) of the appendicular muscle mass to physical function in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To examine the association of 3 different measurements of appendicular muscle mass (absolute, corrected by stature, and corrected by body fat) with physical function in postmenopausal women.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Outpatient geriatric and gynecological clinic.

Participants: Forty-eight postmenopausal women with a mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of 62.1 ± 8.2 years, with mean (SD) length of menopause of 15.7 ± 9.8 years and mean (SD) body fat of 43.6% ± 9.8%.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Appendicular muscle mass measure was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Physical function was measured by a functional capacity questionnaire, a short physical performance battery, and a 6 minute-walk test. Muscle quality (leg extensor strength to lower-body mineral-free lean mass ratio) and sum of z scores (sum of each physical function tests z score) were performed to provide a global index of physical function.

Results: The regression analysis showed that appendicular muscle mass corrected by body fat was the strongest predictor of physical function. Each increase in the standard deviation of appendicular muscle mass corrected by body fat was associated with a mean sum of z score increase of 59% (standard deviation), whereas each increase in absolute appendicular muscle mass and appendicular muscle mass corrected by stature were associated with a mean sum of z scores decrease of 23% and 36%, respectively. Muscle quality was associated with appendicular muscle mass corrected by body fat.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that appendicular muscle mass corrected by body fat is a better predictor of physical function than the other measures of appendicular muscle mass in postmenopausal women.

Level of evidence: I.