Bioimpedance phase angle and body composition parameters associated with number of diabetes-related complications

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and contrasted with the differences in body composition parameters associated with the number of diabetes-related complications. In 648 patients with T2D and regular primary care in Mexico City, an initial and comprehensive evaluation with bioelectrical impedance monofrequency (50 Hz) analysis and an assesment of the presence of diabetes-related complications was obtained, including diabetic renal disease, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral diabetic neuropathy, history of macrovascular complications, and history of diabetic foot ulcer. Body composition parameters were different between patients with complications and patients with no complications, including extracellular water (p < 0.024), resistance (p < 0.006), reactance (p < 0.001), and phase angle (PA) (p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, according to the number of complications documented, higher extracellular water (p < 0.001), lower resistance (p < 0.001), lower reactance (p < 0.001), and lower PA (p < 0.001) were associated to a higher number of complications. PA, extracellular water, resistance, and reactance were different according to the diabetes-related complications profile implying a potential role for diagnosis and prognosis purposes