The prevalence of sarcopenia in a cohort of hemodialysis patients and its correlation with mortality

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is a condition with the hallmark features of reduction of skeletal muscle strength and muscle mass. Sarcopenia prevalence was increased in patients on hemodialysis. Methods To explore the correlation of sarcopenia with mortality among patients on hemodialysis, two hundred and seventy-four patients on regular hemodialysis have been recruited into this study. We used bioimpedance analysis (BIA) to measure the lean body mass index. We have assessed the handgrip strength. Results The reported prevalence of sarcopenia was 14% (38 patients), Sarcopenic patients were significantly older (64.79 ± 9.96 years) compared to non-sarcopenic patients (58.71 ± 7.31 years),p< 0.001. There was strong correlation between serum albumin and appendicular lean mass, (r = 0.75) and a significant moderate correlation between body mass index and appendicular lean muscle mass(r = 0.57). In sarcopenic patients, the Charlson score distribution was 30% mild, 30% moderate, and 40% severe, whereas in non-sarcopenic patients, it was 51% mild, 26% moderate, and 19% severe. The prevalence of sarcopenia is significantly higher in older females and older males compared to younger patients( P   < 0.001). The older females having the lowest grip strength, the lowest lean mass index values (LM/ ht 2) , lower appendicular lean muscle relative to BMI (aLM/BMI) compared to other groups( P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis show that patients with sarcopenia had higher mortality at one year (11%) as compared to patients with no sarcopenia (6%)( p  = 0.006). Conclusion In this cohort of patients on hemodialysis, the highest prevalence of sarcopenia was observed in females over 65. All cause one year mortality in patients on hemodialysis was found to be associated with sarcopenia.