Association of Body Composition with Curve Severity in Children and Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis (IS)

Abstract

The link between scoliotic deformity and body composition assessed with bioimpedance (BIA) has not been well researched. The objective of this study was to correlate the extent of scoliotic-curve severity with the anthropometrical status of patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) based on standard anthropometric measurements and BIA. The study encompassed 279 IS patients (224 girls/55 boys), aged 14.21 ± 2.75 years. Scoliotic curve severity assessed by Cobb’s angle was categorized as moderate (10°–39°) or severe (≥40°). Corrected height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI), corrected height z-score, BMI Z-score, waist/height ratio (WHtR) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) were calculated for the entire group. Body composition parameters: fat mass (FAT), fat-free mass (FFM) and predicted muscle mass (PMM) were determined using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The mean Cobb angle was 19.96° ± 7.92° in the moderate group and 52.36° ± 12.54° in the severe group. The corrected body heights, body weights and BMIs were significantly higher in the severe IS group than in the moderate group (p < 0.05). Significantly higher FAT and lower FFM and PMM were observed in the severe IS group (p < 0.05). The corrected heights and weights were significantly higher in patients with severe IS and normal weight (p < 0.01). Normal and overweight patients with a severe IS had significantly higher adiposity levels assessed by FAT, FFM and PMM for normal and BMI, BMI z-score, WHtR, FAT and PMM for overweight, respectively. Overweight IS patients were significantly younger and taller than underweight and normal weight patients. The scoliotic curve severity is significantly related to the degree of adiposity in IS patients. BMI z-score, WHtR and BIA seem to be useful tools for determining baseline anthropometric characteristics of IS children.

Baseline Body Composition in Prepubertal Short Stature Children with Severe and Moderate Growth Hormone Deficiency

“…Good correlation was found between BIA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the study of de Lorenzo et al [ 33 ], Loveday et al [ 34 ], and Kehoe et al [ 35 ]. Moreover, our recent study confirmed its utility in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis [ 36 ].…”

Low Body Mass Index for Early Screening of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Comparison Based on Standardized Body Mass Index Classifications

“…Two studies only used the WHO definition (BMI Z score) [45,46], and no study has compared the prevalence of AIS based on the three standardized definitions of low BMI. In a previous study, when the WHO BMI (kg/m 2 ) percentile charts were used, a significant difference was found between the severe AIS group (Cobb's angle >40 ) and moderate AIS group (Cobb's angle 10 ~3 9 ), but the use of the BMI Z score (SD) of the WHO did not present any differences between the two groups [47]. This finding is speculated to be due to the underestimation of AIS prevalence by the use of BMI Z score of the WHO cutoff.…”

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass: A more sensitive biomarker of disease severity than BMI in adults with mitochondrial diseases

“…According to standard procedures [29], height was measured using a wall-mounted stadiometer to the nearest 0.1 cm. Body weight was measured with a digital scale to the nearest 0.1 kg.…”