Body composition and muscle health changes after providing vascular imaging results in older adults: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Provision of AAC results combined with lifestyle education provided no benefits to body composition, grip strength, or physical function compared to education alone.

• 240 Australian community-dwelling older men and women were randomised (mean ± SD age 68 ± 5 years; 58% female; 57.1% with evidence of AAC)
• Participants were randomised to AAC + Ed (n = 121) or Control + Ed (n = 119)
• The trial was a 12-week parallel-group randomised controlled trial
• Linear mixed models were used to compare between-group changes in body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), grip strength, and subjective physical function
• 226 (94%) participants completed the trial

Within the AAC + Ed group, participants with evidence of AAC at baseline had greater declines in fat mass compared to those without evidence of AAC.

• Net difference in change in fat mass was -0.6 kg (95% CI: -1.0, -0.1 kg), p = 0.016
• This was an exploratory analysis within the AAC + Ed group only
• The comparison was between those with and without evidence of AAC at baseline

Within the AAC + Ed group, participants with evidence of AAC at baseline had greater reductions in visceral adipose tissue compared to those without evidence of AAC.

• Net difference in change in visceral adipose tissue was -31 g (95% CI: -61, -1 g), p = 0.044
• This was an exploratory analysis within the AAC + Ed group only
• The authors noted these findings require further investigation

The study population had a high prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification at baseline.

• 57.1% of the 240 participants had evidence of AAC at baseline
• Participants were community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 68 ± 5 years
• The sample was 58% female

Vascular imaging result provision has been investigated to prompt healthy lifestyle behaviour changes, but effects on body composition and muscle health were previously unknown.

• This study was a secondary analysis of a 12-week parallel-group RCT
• The intervention involved providing AAC results obtained via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry alongside healthy lifestyle education
• Body composition, grip strength, and subjective physical function were assessed as outcomes