Predictive capacity of different bioelectrical impedance analysis devices, with and without protocol, in evaluation of adolescents

Abstract

Objective

this study was performed to determine the predictive capacity of four diffe- rent bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices in the assessment of adolescents, with and without a protocol.

Methods

a cross-sectional study was performed with 215 adolescents aged 10 to 14 years, of both genders, evaluated through anthropometry and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and by four different BIA devices, with and without a protocol. The following tests were used: Kolmogorov-Smirnov's, chi-squared, Student's t or Mann-Whitney's, Kruskal-Wallis's, Wilcoxon's, and kappa index. The ROC curves were constructed and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.

Results

of the 215 adolescents, 44.2% had excessive body fat. The tetrapolar BIA device equipped with eight tactile electrodes showed more sensitivity and results that were closer to those obtained by DXA (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.964 with protocol and AUC = 0.973 without protocol, p < 0.001), as well as greater agreement (k = 0.67 with protocol and k = 0.63 without protocol, p < 0.001). The evaluation without protocol was similar to that by DXA in most investigated situations (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

BIA is capable of predicting alterations in adolescents’ body composition. When it is impossible to perform the assessment with a protocol, its results may be useful in population studies.

Resumo

Objetivo

: determinar a capacidade preditiva de quatro equipamentos distintos de bioim- pedância elétrica (BIA) na avaliação de adolescentes, com e sem a realização de pro- tocolo.

Métodos

: estudo transversal realizado com 215 adolescentes de 10 a 14 anos, de ambos os sexos, avaliados através da antropometria e da composição corporal pelo DEXA e por quatro equipamentos distintos de BIA, com e sem protocolo. Foram utilizados os testes estatísticos: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, do Qui-quadrado, t-Student ou Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon e Índice Kappa. Foram construídas curvas ROC e calculados os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade e preditivos positivo e negativo.

Resultados

: dos adolescentes, 44,2% apresentaram excesso de gordura corporal. A BIA tetrapolar, equipada com oito eletrodos táteis, demonstrou-se mais sensível e com resul- tados mais próximos ao DEXA (AUC = 0,964 com protocolo e AUC = 0,973 sem protocolo, p < 0,001), apresentando, também, maior concordância (k = 0,67 com protocolo, e k = 0,63 sem protocolo, p < 0,001). A avaliação sem protocolo foi semelhante ao DEXA na maioria das situações investigadas (p > 0,05).

Conclusão

: a BIA é um instrumento capaz de predizer distrofias relacionadas à gordura corporal de adolescentes. Na impossibilidade de realização do protocolo, seus resultados podem ser úteis em estudos populacionais.