Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of imaging-based body composition analysis in postmenopausal women: a review

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Abstract
The article presents an assessment of body composition markers measured by imaging in clinical practice for postmenopausal and aging women. Body composition changes with aging and is specifically affected by endocrinological changes occurring with menopause. Several imaging markers have been proposed and used in the assessment of body composition status. The associations of different imaging markers with cardiometabolic risk and risks for other diseases, with impact on morbidity/mortality, functional impairment, and frailty, are discussed. The imaging markers confirmed by evidence and are applicable to clinical practice are highlighted. With this purpose, the current level of evidence in the literature on reliability and potential associations of each relevant marker was reviewed. This review describes what can and should be done with available imaging tools (e.g., dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) in dedicated and opportunistic settings (i.e., tests for assessing body composition vs those for other clinical reasons but wherein exploitation of imaging data is possible) to improve the management and understanding of lifestyle needs of postmenopausal women and thus to prevent or decrease unhealthy aging and rate of women with aging-related diseases.

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