Lower body extremity function is associated with health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis of overweight and obese older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

We aimed to explore the relationship between characteristics of the sarcopenic phenotype and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling overweight and obese older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Appendicular lean mass (ALM), corrected for height (ALM/m²) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip strength (HGS), and lower extremity physical function was assessed using the Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB) and gait speed. HRQoL was determined using the short-form 36 (SF-36) survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between characteristics of the sarcopenic phenotype and domains of HRQoL.

A total of n = 152 community-dwelling older adults were included (T2DM cohort: n = 87, 71.2 ± 8.2 years, BMI: 29.5 ± 5.9 kg/m²; Obese cohort: n = 65, 68.7 ± 5.6 years, BMI: 33.7 ± 4.9 kg/m²). After adjusting for potential confounders, gait speed and SPPB were positively associated with the physical function subscale of HRQoL (Gait speed: ß = 0.658; P < 0.001; SPPB: ß = 0.478; P < 0.001). This relationship was also maintained for gait speed when assessed independently by cohort (T2DM cohort: ß = 0.637; P < 0.001; Obese cohort: ß = 0.507; P = 0.003).

Our results further contribute to the literature suggesting that lower body extremity function is associated with the physical function subscale of HRQoL. However, larger longitudinal data are required to assess whether lower body extremity function is independently associated with HRQoL, which includes the potential impact of nutrition and physical activity status.