The coexistence of low muscle mass and obesity evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, rather than low muscle mass or obesity alone, is associated with macrovascular but not microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: The prevalence of the coexistence of low muscle mass and obesity is increasing, particularly with a rising trend observed in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the association between the coexistence of low muscle mass and obesity and diabetic complications remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate these associations in patients with T2D.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, including 2387 hospitalized patients with T2DM. Data on demographic characteristics, biochemical parameters, diabetic complications and body composition was from electronic health records. The participants were categorized as control, low muscle mass, obesity and the coexistence of the low muscle mass and obesity groups according to the body compositions evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between the pattern of body composition and complications of diabetes.

Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with patients in the control group, the odds ratios [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of macrovascular complications of diabetes were 0.62 (95% CI, 0.27-1.39) for those in the low muscle mass group, 1.12 (95% CI, 0.59-2.11) in the obesity group, and 2.43 (95% CI, 1.16-5.07) in the coexistence of the low muscle mass and obesity group, respectively; the odds ratios (95% CIs) of microvascular complications of diabetes were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.52-1.43) for those in the low muscle mass group, 0.82 (95% CI, 0.53-1.26) in the obesity group, and 1.21 (95% CI, 0.69-2.15) in the coexistence of the low muscle mass and obesity group, respectively.

Conclusion: According to our findings, the coexistence of low muscle mass and obesity, rather than low muscle mass or obesity alone, was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of macrovascular complications in hospitalized patients with T2DM. This association was not observed for diabetic microvascular complications.