Multidimensional characteristics of body composition in older adults and their relationship to common chronic diseases

Objective This study aims to explore the multidimensional characteristics of body composition in adults aged 65 and older, analyze the association between body composition indicators and common chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, and provide reference for rehabilitation interventions for chronic diseases in the older adults. Methods A total of 324 older adults individuals who underwent community health screenings were enrolled as study participants. An InBody 770 body composition analyzer was used to measure body composition indicators such as skeletal muscle mass (SMM), percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat level (VFL), and percent trunk fat (PTF). Data on chronic diseases were collected, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. Results The prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes among the study participants was 62.3, 53.7 and 19.8%, respectively. Significant gender and age differences were observed in the body composition of older adults: women had higher PBF and lower SMM, while adults aged 75 years and above had lower SMM and higher PBF compared with those aged 65–74 years. Regression analysis showed that higher PBF and higher VFL were independently associated with higher odds of hypertension; lower SMM and higher PBF were associated with dyslipidemia; and higher PBF, lower SMM and higher PTF were independently associated with higher odds of diabetes. Stratified analysis indicated that these associations exhibited heterogeneity by gender and age: the associations of excessive body fat with chronic diseases were more prominent in women, while the associations of low SMM with dyslipidemia and diabetes were stronger in older age groups. Conclusion There are significant age and gender differences in body composition among the older adults population. Elevated body fat, visceral fat accumulation and insufficient SMM are closely associated with common chronic diseases in the older adults, and these associations present population-specific variations. The findings can provide reference evidence for the precise health management and rehabilitation intervention of chronic diseases in the older adults.