Table 3. Association between baseline values of inflammatory parameters and baseline values of body composition parameters, handgrip strength, and physical performance.

	TNF-α (pg/ml)		Log-IL-6 (pg/ml)		Log-CRP* (mg/dl)		Leukocytes total (g/l)
	ß	0070	ß	p-value	ß	p-value	ß	p-value
Frailty status (SHARE-FI)	0.360	0.002	0.183	0.117	0.021	0.889	−0.056	0.645
Body mass index (kg/m2)	0.173	0.207	0.140	0.302	0.228	0.105	0.188	0.171
Fat mass index (kg/m2)	0.241	0.117	0.142	0.353	0.234	0.137	0.243	0.115
ASMMI (kg/m2)	0.127	0.357	0.084	0.536	0.218	0.123	0.075	0.589
Phase angle (°)	−0.188	0.137	−0.242	0.052	0.169	0.198	0.038	0.766
Handgrip strength (kg/m2)	−0.149	0.233	−0.237	0.047	0.043	0.748	−0.043	0.732
Physical performance (SPPB)	−0.239	0.051	0.085	0.480	0.335	0.008	0.177	0.151

In these analyses, patients who were lost to follow-up were also included (n = 73). Values are based on univariate linear regression analyses, with inflammatory parameters as the dependent variables, adjusted for sex, age, anti-inflammatory medication, and chronic rheumatism. Standardized ß-values are reported.

*As the CRP values become negative numbers after log-transformation, associations appearing as positive must be interpreted as negative associations.

ASMMI = appendicular skeletal muscle mass index; SPPB = Short Physical Performance Battery; SHARE-FI = Frailty Instrument of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.