Comparison of Lean Mass in Women With and Without Heart Disease

This proof-of-concept study compared lean mass (LM) between women with heart disease (HD) and without HD.

Fifty-six community-dwelling women were pair-matched by age. Heart disease was defined using criteria from the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Body composition was measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Relative LM was calculated against height (kg/m2) as the lean mass index (LMI). Sarcopenia was defined as an LMI <15.0 kg/m2. Strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer, arm curl test, and chair stand test.

Those with HD had significantly less absolute (38.2 ± 0.8 vs 43.5 ± 1.0 kg; P < .001) and relative (15.3 ± 0.3 vs 16.2 ± 0.3 kg/m2, P = .015) LM compared with those without HD. Body mass was significantly greater for those without HD (76.1 ± 2.1 vs 68.4 ± 2.1 kg; P = .013) and there were no differences in fat mass. Upper body strength was significantly less and lower body strength was diminished but not significantly different in those with HD compared to those without HD (handgrip: P = .016; arm curl: P < .001; chair stand: P = .066).

In this group of community-dwelling women, those who reported a diagnosis of HD had significantly less LM than those without HD. Although neither group was classified as sarcopenic, women with HD were at greater risk due to lower relative LM. Based on our findings, during cardiac rehabilitation clinicians should counsel women regarding resistance exercise for maintenance of LM in addition to strength.