J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Nov;30(11):1682-1688. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1682.

Implication of Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity on Lung Function in Healthy Elderly: Using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Moon JH
• Kong MH
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2351121
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1682

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated a positive association between obesity and decreased lung function. However, the effect of muscle and fat has not been fully assessed, especially in a healthy elderly population. In this study, we evaluated the impact of low muscle mass (LMM) and LMM with obesity on pulmonary impairment in healthy elderly subjects. Our study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011. Men and women aged 65 yr or older were included. Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. LMM was defined as two standard deviations below the sex-specific mean for young healthy adults. Obesity was defined as body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2. The prevalence of LMM in individuals aged over 65 was 11.9%. LMM and pulmonary function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second) were independently associated after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and frequency of exercise. LMM with obesity was also related to a decrease in pulmonary function. This study revealed that LMM is an independent risk factor of decreased pulmonary function in healthy Korean men and women over 65 yr of age.

Keyword

Low Muscle Mass; Obesity; Respiratory Function Tests; Aged; Body Mass Index

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Causality
Comorbidity
Female
Humans
Lung Diseases/*epidemiology/*pathology
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity/*epidemiology/pathology
Organ Size
Prevalence
Reference Values
Reproducibility of Results
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory Muscles/*pathology
Risk Factors
Sarcopenia/*epidemiology/*pathology
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sex Distribution

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlation between muscle mass and pulmonary function parameters. (A) FEV1: R2 = 0.449, P < 0.001; (B) FEV1 (percent predicted): R2 = 0.028, P < 0.001; (C) FVC: R2 = 0.487, P < 0.001; (D) FVC (percent predicted): R2 = 0.005, P = 0.864; (E) FEV1/FVC: R2 = 0.102, P < 0.001. The data were adjusted for age and calculated by a complex samples general linear model. ASM, appendicular skeletal muscle mass; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; WT, weight.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparisons of lung function parameters according to the LMM with obesity status. In men, FEV1 P < 0.001; for FVC P < 0.001, in women, FEV1 P = 0.324; for FVC P = 0.164. The data were adjusted for age and calculated by a complex samples general linear model. FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; L-O-, nonsarcopenic nonobese; L-O+, nonsarcopenic obese; L+O-, sarcopenic nonobese; L+O+, sarcopenic obesity.

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