Association between Disability and Edema Index Values in Rural Older Adult Osteosarcopenia Patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between degree of disability and edema index [extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio] values in a rural population of older adult patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (OS). Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. The degree of disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 12, and ECW/TBW ratio was calculated using bioelectri-cal impedance analysis. Based on ECW/TBW ratio, the participants were stratified into normal (<0.391) and abnormal (>= 0.391) groups, and the mean WHODAS 12 scores were compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis corrected for de-mographic factors, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, and serological test results was also conducted. Results: Significant differences in mean WHODAS 12 scores were observed in the healthy group (5.8 +/- 7.4 vs. 9.2 +/- 9.7, p=0.008), the osteopenia only group (7.4 +/- 8.7 vs. 12.9 +/- 12.0, p<0.001), and the OS group (16.0 +/- 13.2 vs. 23.1 +/- 17.1, p=0.004). However, no significant difference in mean WHODAS 12 score was observed in the sarcopenia only group (14.9 +/- 13.4 vs. 20.7 +/- 14.8, p= 0.051). There were significant differences in ECW/TBW ratio values between the abnormal and normal groups in the osteopenia only group (B=4.646 and p=0.001), the sarcopenia only group (B=5.097 and p=0.016), and the OS group (B=5.653 and p=0.043). Conclusion: This study found that the degree of disability is related to the edema index in older patients with osteopenia, sarco-penia, or OS. Since the edema index indicates the nutritional status of an individual, proper nutrition and fluid intake are impor-tant to reduce disability.