Segmental phase angle as predictor of activities of daily living and muscle health in patients with osteoporotic fracture A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the segmental phase angle is associated with clinical outcomes such as activities of daily living (ADL), muscle strength, and skeletal muscle mass in patients with osteoporotic fractures.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with osteoporotic fractures admitted to convalescent rehabilitation wards. The primary outcome was a Functional Independence Measure motor (FIM-motor) score at discharge, and secondary outcomes were handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) at discharge. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for confounders and to examine the association between segmental phase angle and outcome.

RESULTS: A total of 115 subjects (97 women, age 81.0 ± 10.0 years) were included in the study. The median baseline phase angle was 3.6°. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for confounders showed that arm phase angle was independently positively associated with handgrip strength (β=0.250, P < 0.001) and SMI (β=0.215, P < 0.001) at discharge. Leg phase angle was independently positively associated with FIM-motor score (β=0.077, P = 0.045), handgrip strength (β=0.174, P < 0.001), and SMI (β=0.154, P < 0.001) at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS: The leg phase angle was associated with ADL, muscle strength, and skeletal muscle mass in patients with osteoporotic fractures at discharge. Segmental phase angle may be a useful indicator for considering intervention methods in patients with osteoporotic fractures.