Metabolic age and cardiometabolic risk in institutionalised older adults: a cross-sectional study
In 55 institutionalised older adults in Spain, higher metabolic age was associated with cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome, while chronological age showed no significant associations; the design is cross-sectional and cannot show causation. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Fifty-five institutionalised older adults in Spanish care facilities were assessed between 2023 and 2024 in a cross-sectional observational study. [1]
Metabolic age was significantly higher in participants with cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome, and was associated with both outcomes, whereas chronological age was not. [1]
Higher metabolic age was associated with greater visceral adiposity, and lower leg muscle mass characterised the most adverse cardiometabolic profiles. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional observational study (abstract).
- Population / context
- Institutionalised older adults in residential care facilities in Spain.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 23, 2026
Metabolic age versus chronological age in 55 care residents
The study asked whether metabolic age reflects cardiometabolic vulnerability better than chronological age in institutionalised older adults. Fifty-five residents of care facilities in Spain were assessed between 2023 and 2024. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Cardiovascular risk was estimated with the SCORE2-OP model, and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using harmonised clinical criteria. The authors compared metabolic age with chronological age for both outcomes.
Supporting source [1]
Higher metabolic age linked to both outcomes in this sample
Metabolic age was significantly higher in participants with cardiovascular risk and with metabolic syndrome. It was significantly associated with both outcomes and showed discriminatory ability within this sample. Chronological age showed no significant associations with either outcome. Among body composition variables, leg muscle mass index, body mass index and visceral fat were most strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk. Higher metabolic age was associated with greater visceral adiposity, and lower leg muscle mass characterised the most adverse profiles.
Supporting source [1]
Cross-sectional design limits causal reading of metabolic age
The authors conclude that metabolic age may be a more informative indicator of cardiometabolic vulnerability than chronological age in this group, and that combined with body composition assessment it may add complementary information. These are associations from a cross-sectional observational study of 55 people; they do not show that metabolic age causes risk or that changing it changes outcomes. Only the abstract was reviewed, so details of recruitment, measurement and analysis beyond the abstract were not examined.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a cross-sectional observational study of 55 people, so associations cannot establish causation or predict change over time.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Durán-Gómez N, Martín-Parrilla MÁ, Montanero-Fernández J, López-Jurado CF, Fernández-Morales C, Cáceres MC. · europepmc.org · September 23, 2026