Relationship of Phase Angle with Sarcopenia Components and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Physically Independent Older Adults

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between phase angle (PhA), sarcopenia components, and comprehensive geriatric assessment in physically independent older adults. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 135 physically independent older adults admitted to a geriatric outpatient clinic. All participants underwent bioelectrical impedance analyses and comprehensive geriatric assessments. The individuals were investigated in two groups regarding PhA: 1st versus 2nd and 3rd terciles. The individuals in the first tercile were considered to have low PhA (for women <4.6° and men <5.4°). Results: The prevalence of individuals with low PhA was 22% (n=30). PhA was correlated with hand grip strength (HGS) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) overall (r=0.523; p<0.001, r=0.335; p<0.001, respectively). A moderately positive, moderately significant correlation was found between PhA and ASMM in males (r=0.618; p<0.001), with the highest significance of all. In univariate analysis, components of sarcopenia and comprehensive geriatric assessments were not associated with low PhA values overall and in the male group (p>0.05). Only ASMM was significantly associated with low PhA in the univariate and multivariate analyses in the female group (p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Challenges such as the use of different formulas for calculating ASMM and various cutoff values for different ethnic groups can be barriers to ASMM assessment. PhA might be a simple predictor of ASMM in physically independent older women.