Two-year changes in body composition and future cardiovascular events: a longitudinal community-based study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiology
• Body Composition Analysis

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is rising in middle-aged and elderly populations.
• Limited data exists on body composition changes and CVD risk in Chinese older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between 2-year changes in fat percentage (fat%) and fat-free mass percentage (FFM%) and subsequent cardiovascular events.
• To analyze these associations in a community-based cohort of Chinese middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1048 participants (aged 50-80 years) without prior cardiovascular disease was studied.
• Body composition (fat% and FFM%) was measured twice over two years (2013-2016) using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
• Participants were followed until 2022 for cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

• Higher fat% gain (≥2%) was associated with a 2.07-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events.
• Greater FFM% loss (>8%) was linked to a 3.83-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events.
• Every 2% increase in fat% raised cardiovascular event risk (HR 1.04), while every 2% increase in FFM% lowered it (HR 0.84).

Conclusions:

• In middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults, increased fat% and decreased FFM% are significant risk factors for cardiovascular events.
• Changes in body composition, specifically fat accumulation and muscle mass loss, are critical indicators for cardiovascular risk assessment.