226 Ultrasound and adipometer body fat measurement of cystic fibrosis (CF) children and adolescents

Abstract

Objectives To compare body fat between CF and healthy children and adolescents and to correlate ultrasound and adipometer skinfold measurements. Methods CF children and adolescents, aged 6 to 18 years, followed at Hospital Sao Lucas da PUCRS, Brazil, outpatient clinics were included. Also, age and sex paired healthy individuals were included in the study. Participants underwent anthropometric measurements, followed by adipometer skinfold measurements and ultrasound subcutaneous fat tissue of upper arms, thighs and calves. Percentage fat estimation was done by summing upper arm and calf skinfolds. CF individuals underwent spirometry testing. Paired T-student and Pearson tests were used to compare groups and to check correlations between adipometer and ultrasound evaluations. Results 35 CF and 35 healthy individuals were evaluated. The mean age was 12 years and 60% were males. There was no difference in demographic characteristics between groups, except for age corrected BMI, which was lower in CF individuals. (p = 0.031). CF children and adolescents had a slight pulmonary function compromise and a significative lower upper arm (p = 0.026) and thigh (p = 0.021) skinfold measurements. CF patients had lower fat body content, than healthy individuals (p = 0.047). Skinfold measurements and ultasound fat evaluation significantly correlated (p Conclusion CF children and adolescents have lower body fat when compared to paired healthy individuals. There was a good correlation between skinfold and ultrasound fat measurements.