Changes in body composition and phase angle from diagnosis to gastrostomy, in motor neuron disease patients: a longitudinal study.

Fat-free mass significantly decreased from diagnosis to gastrostomy in MND patients.

• Study included 19 MND patients (n=11, 57.9% females).
• FFM decreased from a median (IQR) of 43.0 (17.8) kg to 42.1 (16.7) kg.
• The reduction was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
• Body composition was measured via bioimpedance analysis (BIA) at two time points: diagnosis and gastrostomy.

Phase angle significantly decreased from diagnosis to gastrostomy in MND patients.

• Phase angle (PhA) decreased from a median (IQR) of 4.6 (2.0)° to 4.5 (2.1)°.
• The reduction was statistically significant (p = 0.012).
• Phase angle was measured via bioimpedance analysis (BIA).
• The study included 19 patients.

Both FFM and FM were significant predictors of weight change, with FFM accounting for the majority of the change.

• FFM was a significant predictor of weight change (p = 0.007, 95% CI 0.505, 1.32).
• FM was also a significant predictor of weight change (p = 0.024, 95% CI 0.160, 1.249).
• FFM accounted for 72% of the weight change.
• These findings were derived from a longitudinal analysis of 19 MND patients from diagnosis to gastrostomy placement.

The authors identified a need for larger longitudinal studies and recommended clinical monitoring of body composition prior to gastrostomy in MND patients.

• The authors stated that 'larger longitudinal studies are needed to explore the clinical benefit associated with reducing pre-gastrostomy FFM loss in the MND population.'
• Clinicians are advised to consider 'monitoring body composition and implementing interventions aimed at preserving body weight and composition, particularly FFM, prior to gastrostomy placement.'
• The study was described as a pilot longitudinal study with a sample size of 19 patients.
• The study highlighted limited prior research on longitudinal alterations of FFM, FM, and PhA in the MND population.