Body composition of women with and without dynapenia defined by different cut-off points

ABSTRACT Objective To compare body composition of postmenopausal women with and without dynapenia, defined by different cut-off points. Methods Body composition was assessed by electrical bioimpedance and the nutritional status by the body mass index. Dynapenia was diagnosed according to handgrip strength, using the following cut-off points: handgrip strength <16kgf and <20 kgf. Results A total of 171 women (50 to 92 years of age) participated in the investigation. The mean age of non-dynapenic and dynapenic women (handgrip strength <20kgf) was 69.4±8.2 and 74.5±8.2 years, respectively. The mean age of women with dynapenia (handgrip strength <16kgf) was 75.0±10.1 years and non-dynapenic women, 71.1±8.2 years. It was found that dynapenic women, with handgrip strength <20 and <16kgf, had an average of 2.38 and 2.47kg less muscle mass respectively, when compared to non-dynapenic women (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in muscle mass between the different dynapenic groups. Non-dynapenic women (handgrip strength ≥20kgf) had more total (3.55kg) and central fat (1.47kg) (p<0.05). Conclusion Dynapenic women, diagnosed considering both cutoff points, had less total and segmental muscle mass compared to non-dynapenic women. In addition, dynapenic women with handgrip strength <20kgf had lower total and trunk adiposity.