P-298: Body composition assessment by bioelectrical impedance in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
M N de Brito Perreira, T de Andrade Schuler, B G Sales Gomes da Silva, C Donaire Sousa, J L de França AlbuquerqueAbstract
Introduction
Overweight and obesity are rising in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), with impacts on glycemic control and metabolic risk. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provides accurate and pratical assessment of adiposity.
Objectives
To evaluate body composition in children with T1DM and its associations with glycemic control and cardiovascular risk.
Methods
Cross-sectional comparative study conducted at a pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic in Brazil. It included 37 children with T1DM and 25 controls, assessed by BIA. Participants aged ≥3 years were included; those with conditions affecting body composition were excluded. In the T1DM group, disease duration was >1 year. Variables analyzed included body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), skeletal muscle mass percentage (SMM%), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, pubertal stage, lipid profile, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate comparative tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
BF% was higher among boys in the control group compared to those with T1DM (p = 0.022), and obesity (BMI) was more prevalent in controls (p = 0.028). Mean HbA1c was 9.5%. Within the T1DM group, sex-related differences were observed: girls had a higher BF% (30.7%; p < 0.001), while boys had a higher SMM% (41.8%; p = 0.033). Among participants with T1DM, 47.2% had elevated total cholesterol and 44.4% had increased LDL levels. BF% was positively correlated with total cholesterol (p = 0.025) and LDL (p = 0.008), while LDL levels were negatively correlated with SMM% (p = 0.04). Higher systolic blood pressure percentiles were associated with increased BF% (p = 0.012) and WHR (p = 0.003). No correlation was found between body composition and HbA1c levels.
Conclusions
Boys in the control group had higher BF%. Lipid profile and blood pressure were associated with BF%, while LDL was inversely associated with SMM%. These findings support body composition monitoring in T1DM for metabolic risk assessment.