Strength and function response to clinical interventions of older women categorized by weakness and low lean mass using classifications from the foundation for the national institute of health sarcopenia project

Background. The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project developed data-driven cut-points for clinically meaningful weakness and low lean body mass. This analysis describes strength and function response to interventions based on these classifications. Methods. In data from four intervention studies, 378 postmenopausal women with baseline and 6-month data were evaluated for change in grip strength, appendicular lean mass corrected for body mass index, leg strength and power, and short physical performance battery (SPPB). Clinical interventions included hormones, exercise, and nutritional supplementation. Differences in outcomes were evaluated between (i) those with and without weakness and (ii) those with weakness and low lean mass or with one but not the other. We stratified analyses by slowness (walking speed ≤ 0.8 m/s) and by treatment assignment. Results. The women (72±7 years; body mass index of 26±5kg/m²) were weak (33%), had low lean mass (14%), or both (6%). Those with weakness increased grip strength, lost less leg power, and gained SPPB score (p