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Body Composition Changes and 10-Year Mortality Risk in Older Brazilian Adults: Analysis of Prospective Data from the SABE Study

The journal of nutrition, health & aging volume 23, pages 51–59 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Aging related alterations in body composition are associated with higher all-cause mortality risk.

Objective

To examine the associations between 10-year mortality risk with both BMI and body composition, as well as to establish whether these relationships are modified by age and gender, using data from community-dwelling older Brazilian adults.

Methods

We used data from two waves i.e., 2000 and 2010 of the SABE (Health, Well-being, and Aging) study conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, involving a probabilistic sample of community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older. The variables of the study were: mortality (in 10-year follow-up period), body mass index (BMI), body composition (waist circumference, waist hip ratio, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference, calf circumference, and arm muscle area) and covariables (sociodemographic characteristics, life style, self-reported health conditions, number of chronic diseases, Mini mental state exam, and Geriatric depression scale). Poisson regression estimates with STATA statistical software were used for statistical analyses, considering all p-values < 0.05.

Results

Over the 10-year follow-up period, there were 769 deaths (40.2%). The mortality rate was 61.0 for men and 111.8 for the ≥80 age group. In the fully adjusted model, statistically significant hazard ratios were found for low muscle mass (IRR: 1.33), underweight (IRR: 1.29), and low fat mass (IRR: 1.31) with mortality. Men in extreme BMI categories (underweight - IRR: 1.47; obesity I - IRR: 1.66; and obesity II - IRR: 1.91) and women with low muscle and low fat mass were significantly associated with mortality risk. In the ≥80 age group it was observed that low muscle mass (IRR: 168.7), inadequate body reserves (IRR: 1.63), low fat mass (IRR: 140.7), and underweight (IRR: 142.9) were associated with mortality risk. Waist circumference demonstrated protection for mortality in the high-risk categorization for the ≥80 age group.

Conclusion

Our results showed that underweight, low fat mass, and low muscle mass were associated with mortality risk, presenting different roles considering gender and age in older Brazilian adults over a 10-year follow-up period.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Manuela de Almeida Roediger

  2. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    M. de Fátima Nunes Marucci

  3. Nutrition and Dietetics School, Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD), Santiago, Chile

    D. A. Quintiliano Scarpelli Dourado

  4. Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, London, UK

    C. de Oliveira

  5. Department of Social Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    J. Licio Ferreira Santos

  6. Department of Nursing Medical Surgical, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Y. A. de Oliveira Duarte

  7. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health (FSP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Avenida Doutor Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira César, CEP: 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Manuela de Almeida Roediger

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  1. Manuela de Almeida Roediger
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  2. M. de Fátima Nunes Marucci
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  3. D. A. Quintiliano Scarpelli Dourado
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  4. C. de Oliveira
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  5. J. Licio Ferreira Santos
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  6. Y. A. de Oliveira Duarte
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Correspondence to Manuela de Almeida Roediger.

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de Almeida Roediger, M., de Fátima Nunes Marucci, M., Quintiliano Scarpelli Dourado, D.A. et al. Body Composition Changes and 10-Year Mortality Risk in Older Brazilian Adults: Analysis of Prospective Data from the SABE Study. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 51–59 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1118-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1118-1

Key words

  • Aging
  • body composition
  • mortality
  • community-dwelling