Identification of sarcopenic obesity in adults undergoing orthopaedic surgery: Relationship between "a body shape index" (ABSI) and fat-free mass. A cross -sectional study.

Abstract

BackgroundSarcopenic obesity is a condition characterised by the coexistence of low muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) and excessive fat mass (obesity). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this condition in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery by gender and type of orthopaedic surgery. In addition, this study investigated the suitability of a waist circumference-based anthropometric measure, body shape index (ABSI), for predicting sarcopenic obesity and the predictive power of ABSI for fat-free mass index (FFMI), a surrogate marker of lean body mass.Methods and findingsA cross-sectional study of overweight and obese orthopaedic patients undergoing knee or hip and spine surgery was conducted between October 2019 and March 2020 in Orthopaedic Hospital Valdoltra, Slovenia. General anthropometric parameters body mass index (BMI) and ABSI = (WC/(BMI2/3x height½) as well as body composition data (fat mass FM, fat-free mass FFM, FFMI, and the ratio FM/FFM as an index of sarcopenic obesity) were determined in 120 women (aged 66.5 ± 9.6 years) and 89 men (aged 65.5 ± 7.8 years) with overweight (25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI 0.80 was present in 15.3% of patients, mainly in female patients undergoing knee surgery. ABSI was significantly associated with age in all women and obese men and with waist circumference (WC) in all patients. ABSI did not correlate with BMI in women and men; however, multiple linear regression analysis showed that BMI independently predicted FFMI (R = 0.83 and 0.70, respectively, p ConclusionsSarcopenic obesity was most prevalent in obese women scheduled for knee surgery. In addition, ABSI, independently predicted FFMI in women and represents a significant predictor of sarcopenic obesity.