Association between locomotive syndrome and visceral fat area

Abstract Background The association between locomotive syndrome (LS) and visceral fat area (VFA) has only been reported in the older population; however, the association between early stage LS (stage 1 [LS1]) and VFA remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between LS1 and VFA across different age groups through cross-sectional analysis. Methods In total, 1,236 (524 males and 712 females) participants aged 20–85 years were categorised into non-LS (n = 884, 71.5%) and LS1 (n = 352, 28.5%) groups according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association diagnostic criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the presence of LS1 and VFA quartiles, age groups, and four groups: high VFA (73 cm2 < VFA) and non-older (age < 65 years), low VFA (VFA ≤ 73 cm2) and older (65 years ≤ age), high VFA and older, and low VFA and non-older groups, which was adjusted for sex, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index, T-score, exercise habits, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Results VFA was significantly associated with the prevalence of LS1 using multiple logistic analysis across VFA quartiles: Quartile 2 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.83; p = 0.005), Quartile 3 (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.71–4.12; p < 0.001), and Quartile 4 (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 2.41–7.07; p < 0.001), compared with Quartile 1. Age was also associated with LS1 prevalence. Finally, we investigated the association between LS1 and VFA across the age groups. The OR for each group was as follows: high VFA and non-older group (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.28–2.72; p = 0.001), low VFA and older group (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.94–5.14; p < 0.001), and high VFA and older group (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.98–10.4; p < 0.001), compared with the low VFA and non-older group. Conclusions VFA is cumulatively associated with LS1 in relation to age in both the older and non-older groups. Our findings indicate that the management of VFA by diet and exercise is crucial not only for older but also non-older individuals to prevent LS1.