Identifying Target Values of Body Composition for Preventing Frailty: A Descriptive Study in Older Adults

This study investigated the relationship between frailty and body composition and the target values for preventing frailty in body composition. Frailty status and body composition such as the percent body fat and skeletal mass index was measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed by sex. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to extract the cutoff values for body composition. The participants were 259 in females and 84 in males for 343 of which 75.5% females. Among the females, age was a significant independent variable. Percent body fat was significantly associated with frailty status in males, with a cutoff value of 27.6%. The area under the curve was significant (0.689, p < 0.01, sensitivity = 0.574, specificity = 0.784). New target value of percent body fat in males for preventing frailty is identified. Findings of this study could contribute to the establishment of preventive intervention for frailty in clinical practice.