Relationship of body composition and lung function in adult and elderly males and females.

Appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) was positively associated with FEV1, FVC, and TLC and negatively associated with RV and FRC in the overall study population.

• Study used data from 10,616 adults aged 18-82 years from the prospective population-based LEAD cohort conducted between 2011 and 2022 in Vienna, Austria.
• Body compartments were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and indexed by height squared.
• Lung function was measured by spirometry (FEV1 and FVC) and body plethysmography (TLC, FRC, and RV).
• ALMI showed positive associations with the flow-based and capacity measures (FEV1, FVC, TLC) and negative associations with the residual/functional reserve volumes (RV, FRC).

Visceral adipose tissue index (VATI) showed a negative association with all lung function parameters investigated.

• VATI was negatively associated with FEV1, FVC, TLC, FRC, and RV.
• This finding applied to the overall study population of 10,616 adults.
• Body compartments were indexed by height squared to account for differences related to body height.
• This negative association with all lung function parameters contrasts with the directionally mixed associations seen for lean mass indices.

The associations between body compartments and lung function were also present in the elderly subpopulation.

• In total, 1,923 participants were elderly (age >65 years).
• The effects of ALMI and VATI on lung function observed in the overall population were also found in the elderly population.
• The study specifically aimed to evaluate the effects of aging on the relationship between body compartments and lung function.
• The study population ranged from 18 to 82 years of age, allowing comparison across age groups.

The study evaluated four body composition indices—ALMI, lean mass index (LMI), fat mass index (FMI), and VATI—in relation to spirometric and body plethysmographic lung function.

• This was an observational, cross-sectional study using data from the LEAD cohort.
• Spirometric parameters included FEV1 and FVC; body plethysmographic parameters included TLC, FRC, and RV.
• All body composition indices were measured by DXA and indexed by height squared.
• The LEAD cohort was conducted between 2011 and 2022 in Vienna, Austria.

The study concludes that body compartments need to be considered in the assessment and interpretation of lung function results.

• Significant associations between body compartments and lung function were confirmed in both adults and the elderly.
• The relationship between body compartments and lung volumes, including the effects of aging on this relationship, was described as remaining to be explored prior to this study.
• The findings applied across spirometric and body plethysmographic lung function measures.
• The study population of 10,616 adults provides a large population-based sample to support these conclusions.