Anthropometric parameters and body tissue compartments of patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction depending on weight loss within the previous 6 months

The aim – to compare the anthropometric parameters and body tissue compartments of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction depending on weight loss ≥ 6 % of total body weight within the previous 6 months. Materials and methods. 77 stable patients with chronic heart failure 25–75 years old, NYHA class II–IV, with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35 % were screened. The criterion for the patients group distribution was the weight loss in the last 6 months ≥ 6 % according to the European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CHF. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Patients were included in a clinical compensation phase. Results and discussion. Weight loss ≥ 6 % within the previous 6 months was observed in 34 (44.2 %) patients. Patients with weight loss ≥ 6 % had a significantly smaller fat tissue mass (p=0.002) and lean tissues mass (p=0.039), which was confirmed by comparing the normalized indicators of these tissue arrays relative to growth. The limb muscle mass (p=0.006) and the limb muscle mass index (p=0.002) were significantly less in this group of patients. The number of lost kilograms over the past 6 months correlated inversely with the muscle mass index of limbs (r=–0.411, p=0.001), body weight (r=–0.381, p=0.001), muscle mass of limbs (r=–0.360, p=0.001), hip circumference (r=–0.352, p=0.002), body surface area (r=–0.345, p=0.009), waist circumference (r=–0.334, p=0.003), body mass index (r=–0.330, p=0.004), shoulder arm circumference (r=–0.280, p=0.015), lean tissue mass (r=–0.277, p=0.015), skin-fat fold thickness under the scapula (r=–0.273, p=0.018), fat mass tissue (r=–0.269, p=0.018), the circumference of tense arm (r=–0.262, p=0.023), the ratio of fat tissue to height (r=–0.253, p=0.026), the fat tissue index (r=–0.233, p=0.042), and correlated positively with the percentage of bone tissues (r=0.250, p=0.028). Conclusions. Weight loss ≥ 6 % over the past 6 months in patients with CHF and reduced ventricular ejection fraction was observed in 34 (44.2 %) patients. Patients with CHF and weight loss ≥ 6 % were significantly older, had a higher NYHA class, lower body weight, body mass index, shoulder circumference of a tense and relaxed arm, waist and hip circumferences, thickness skin and fat folds over the biceps, triceps and under the scapula. Patients with a body weight loss of ≥ 6 % over the past 6 months had a significantly lower percentage of fat tissue, fat mass and lean tissue mass, indexes of fat mass and muscular tissue of limbs. Patients in groups did not differ in terms of mineral bone mass.