Y M Cheung1, G Roff2, M Grossmann3. 1. Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: yeeming.cheung1611@gmail.com. 2. Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Australia. 3. Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As the number of individuals with obesity increases, so too will the demand for a precise, cost-effective and safe method to better risk-stratify this heterogenous population. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, a body composition measurement has been associated with the many facets of the metabolic syndrome. AIM: To determine the precision of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in providing body composition measurements, including VAT area, using the Hologic Horizon A scanner. METHOD: Thirty participants (mean age 64 years, 47% male), underwent two sequential body composition scans. The coefficient of variation (CV) and least significant change (LSC) were calculated for android/gynoid ratio, appendicular lean/height2, lean/height2, total body fat and lean mass, total body mass, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and VAT area. Participants were stratified according to age (<70 or ≥70 years), body mass index (BMI) (≤30 kg/m2 or >30 kg/m2) and sex (male or female). The CV was calculated for each parameter and then analysed for differences between groups. RESULTS: The CV for all parameters was <3% with the exception of SAT (3.86%). The CV of VAT area was 2.63% with a LSC at 95% confidence of 7.28%. Apart from the CV differences between males and females for android/gynoid ratio (male: 3.56% vs. female: 1.74%, p = 0.01) and SAT area (5.04% vs. 2.46%, p = 0.01), there were no significant differences identified between the calculated CV for all other body composition parameters when participants were stratified by age, BMI and sex. CONCLUSION: DXA scanning, using the Hologic Horizon A system, is capable of providing precise body composition measurements.
BACKGROUND: As the number of individuals with obesity increases, so too will the demand for a precise, cost-effective and safe method to better risk-stratify this heterogenous population. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, a body composition measurement has been associated with the many facets of the metabolic syndrome. AIM: To determine the precision of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in providing body composition measurements, including VAT area, using the Hologic Horizon A scanner. METHOD: Thirty participants (mean age 64 years, 47% male), underwent two sequential body composition scans. The coefficient of variation (CV) and least significant change (LSC) were calculated for android/gynoid ratio, appendicular lean/height2, lean/height2, total body fat and lean mass, total body mass, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and VAT area. Participants were stratified according to age (<70 or ≥70 years), body mass index (BMI) (≤30 kg/m2 or >30 kg/m2) and sex (male or female). The CV was calculated for each parameter and then analysed for differences between groups. RESULTS: The CV for all parameters was <3% with the exception of SAT (3.86%). The CV of VAT area was 2.63% with a LSC at 95% confidence of 7.28%. Apart from the CV differences between males and females for android/gynoid ratio (male: 3.56% vs. female: 1.74%, p = 0.01) and SAT area (5.04% vs. 2.46%, p = 0.01), there were no significant differences identified between the calculated CV for all other body composition parameters when participants were stratified by age, BMI and sex. CONCLUSION: DXA scanning, using the Hologic Horizon A system, is capable of providing precise body composition measurements.