Dynapenic Abdominal Obesity and the Risk of Non-Neoplastic Digestive System Diseases in Postmenopausal Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Non-neoplastic digestive system diseases (NNDSD) are highly prevalent in older adults and impose a substantial health burden, particularly among postmenopausal women. Dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO), characterized by the coexistence of reduced muscle strength and abdominal obesity, has been associated with a range of chronic diseases. However, its association with incident NNDSD in postmenopausal women remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to explore the prospective association between DAO and incident NNDSD in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 2115 postmenopausal women drawn from five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants were classified into four mutually exclusive groups: non-dynapenic and non-abdominally obese (ND/NAO), abdominal obesity alone (ND/AO), dynapenia alone (D/NAO), and concurrent dynapenia and abdominal obesity (D/AO). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between DAO and incident NNDSD, defined based on self-reported physician diagnoses obtained through standardized questionnaires.

RESULTS

Over a 9-year follow-up, 446 participants developed NNDSD. The incidence of NNDSD was highest among participants in the D/AO group. The D/AO group showed a significantly higher risk of NNDSD compared to the ND/NAO group (HR: 1.892, 95% CI: 1.256-2.849). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.

CONCLUSION

DAO is independently associated with an increased risk of NNDSD in postmenopausal women. Given the observational nature of this study, the findings should be interpreted with caution and do not imply causality. Further prospective and interventional studies are warranted to confirm these associations and to evaluate their clinical and preventive implications.