Validity of malnutrition scores for predicting mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients

Malnutrition as a potential predictor of mortality in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Malnutrition, a significant problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), is linked to lower health-related quality of life, longer and more frequent hospital admissions, worse functional capacity, and higher levels of morbidity. However, the extent of its impact on mortality is poorly elucidated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of malnutrition on mortality among CKD patients on dialysis.

METHODS

This meta-analysis was designed and performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (CRD42023394584). A systematic electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase to identify relevant cohort studies. The studies that reported nutritional status and its impact on mortality in patients were considered for analysis. The generic inverse variance method was used to pool the hazard ratio effect estimates by employing a random effects model. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for the quality assessment. The statistical analysis was performed by utilizing RevMan and CMA 2.0.

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies that comprised 11,063 patients on dialysis whose nutritional status was evaluated were eligible for quantitative analysis. Based on a comparison between the "malnutrition" category and the reference "normal nutrition status" category, the results showed that the overall pooled hazard risk (HR) for mortality was (HR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.36-1.64, p < 0.0001). According to the subgroup analysis, the hemodialysis subgroup had greater mortality hazards (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.38-1.70, p < 0.0001), compared to the peritoneal dialysis subgroup (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.15-1.37, p < 0.00001). Additionally, the overall incidence of mortality was explored but the authors were unable to combine the results due to limitations with the data.

CONCLUSION

The findings conclude that malnutrition is a strong predictor of mortality among patients on dialysis, with the hemodialysis subgroup having a higher mortality hazard compared to the peritoneal dialysis subgroup. The results of this study will advocate for early nutritional evaluation and timely dietary interventions to halt the progression of CKD and death.

Age-associated effects of intradialytic exercise on physical function and nutritional status in patients receiving ambulatory hemodialysis: A multicenter cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Intradialytic exercise is essential for improving physical function for older patients. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the effects of exercise therapy and aging.

METHODS

This multicenter cohort study included 1176 patients aged 40-89 years, who participated in an intradialytic exercise program, comprising stretching and resistance training, three times per week for 12 months. Isometric knee extension strength (IKES), 10-m walking speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) were measured at baseline and after 12 months. The patients were divided according to age as follows: 40-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 years. A linear mixed-effects model examined the improvement within-group and between-control differences, as the 40-59 age group was the control group.

FINDINGS

The 40-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 age groups comprised 180, 317, 466, and 213 participants, respectively. Within-group differences, all the age groups significantly improved IKES and SPPB. The 10-m walking speed [0.02 (0.02) m/s] and GNRI [0.38 (0.33)] did not improved only in the 80-89 age group despite other age groups significantly improved. Between-control differences, IKES of the 70-79 age group [-0.24 (-0.42 to -0.06) %] was significantly lower improvement than control. GNRI of all the older groups were significantly smaller improvement than control (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

The older group demonstrated difficulty in improving walking ability and nutritional status compared with the younger groups. Clinicians need to consider the difference in effectiveness due to age and prescribe intradialytic exercises accordingly.

Study on the correlation between bioelectrical impedance analysis index and protein energy consumption in maintenance dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) has been reported to be pretty common in maintenance dialysis patients. However, the existing PEW diagnostic standard is limited in clinical use due to the complexity of it. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), as a non-invasive nutritional assessment method, can objectively and quantitatively analyze the changes of body tissue components under different nutritional states. We aim to explore the association between PEW and BIA and establish a reliable diagnostic model of PEW.

METHODS

We collected cross-sectional data of 609 maintenance dialysis patients at the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University. PEW was diagnosed according to International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) criteria. Among them, 448 consecutive patients were included in the training set for the establishment of a diagnostic nomogram. 161 consecutive patients were included for internal validation. 52 patients from Zhejiang Hospital were included for external validation of the diagnostic model. Correlation analysis of BIA indexes with other nutritional indicators was performed. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of BIA indexes with PEW. 12 diagnostic models of PEW in maintenance dialysis patients were developed and the performance of them in terms of discrimination and calibration was evaluated using C statistics and Hosmer-Lemeshow-type χ2 statistics. After comparing to existing diagnostic models, and performing both internal and external validation, we finally established a simple but reliable PEW diagnostic model which may have great value of clinical application.

RESULTS

A total of 609 individuals from First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University and 52 individuals from Zhejiang Hospital were included. After full adjustment, age, peritoneal dialysis (compared to hemodialysis), subjective global assessment (SGA, compared to non-SGA) and water ratio were independent risk factors, while triglyceride, urea nitrogen, calcium, ferritin, BCM, VFA and phase angle were independent protective factors of PEW. The model incorporated water ratio, VFA, BCM, phase angle and cholesterol revealed best performance. A nomogram was developed according to the results of model performance. The model achieved high C-indexes of 0.843 in the training set, 0.841 and 0.829 in the internal and external validation sets, respectively, and had a well-fitted calibration curve. The net reclassification improvement (NRI) showed 8%, 13%, 2%, 38%, 36% improvement of diagnostic accuracy of our model compared with "PEW score model", "modified PEW score model", "3-index model", "SGA model" and "BIA decision tree model", respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BIA can be used as an auxiliary tool to evaluate PEW risk and may have certain clinical application value.

Association between phosphate binder pill burden and mortality risk in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: a single-center cohort study with 7-year follow-up of 513 patients

BACKGROUND

Dialysis patients often take multiple oral medications, leading to a high pill burden. Phosphate binders (PBs) account for a large proportion of this daily pill burden (DPB). The relationship between DPB and mortality risk remains unclear, and we hypothesized that this relationship might be influenced by the proportion of PBs to all medications.

METHODS

We divided DPB into those derived from PBs and non-PB drugs and analyzed the association with mortality risk over a 7-year period in 513 chronic hemodialysis patients using a baseline model.

RESULTS

The median (interquartile range) DPB from all drugs was 15.8 (11.2-21.0) pills/day/patient, and the median ratio of PB pills to all drug pills was 29.3 (13.7-45.9)% at baseline. During a median observation period of 5.2 years, 161 patients (31.4%) died. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in all-cause mortality between PB users and non-users. However, a significant survival advantage was observed in the highest tertile of DPB from PBs compared to the lowest tertile. Conversely, the highest tertile of DPB from non-PB drugs was associated with worse survival. Consequently, the highest tertile of the ratio of PBs to all pills was associated with better survival. This association remained significant even after adjusting for patient characteristics in the Cox proportional hazards model. However, when serum nutritional parameters were included as covariates, the significant association disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS

Dialysis patients prescribed a higher rate of PB pills to all medications exhibited a lower mortality risk, possibly due to their better nutritional status.

Influence of Malnutrition on the Improvement of Physical Function by Intradialytic Resistance Exercise in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE

Intradialytic exercise improves physical function. However, malnutrition may be an essential factor affecting the effectiveness of exercise to improve physical function. Few studies of the relationship between malnutrition and the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise to improve physical function exist. Therefore, this study investigated malnutrition at the beginning of intradialytic exercise and how it affects the subsequent improvement in physical function.

METHODS

Patients who performed intradialytic exercise for 12 months were enrolled in this study. A Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index of 91.2 was defined as malnutrition. Patients were assigned to 2 groups using propensity score matching to adjust for confounding factors. Physical function outcomes were handgrip strength, isometric knee extension strength, short physical performance battery, and 10-m walking speed; these were compared at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The 2 groups were further divided into another 2 groups as per whether the nutritional status had improved after 12 months; therefore, a total of 4 groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

After matching, the data of 154 patients in each group were analyzed. During the intragroup comparison, isometric knee extension strength, short physical performance battery, and 10-m walking speed improved significantly in both groups after intradialytic exercise was started compared with before intradialytic exercise was started. However, there was no significant improvement in handgrip strength in the malnutrition group. There were no significant differences in any of the physical function measurements or changes from the baseline values among the 4 groups divided as per subsequent recovery of the nutritional status.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition may not impact the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise to improve lower-leg physical function. Its effect on the improvement of handgrip strength requires further investigation.

The Mutual Contribution of 3-NT, IL-18, Albumin, and Phosphate Foreshadows Death of Hemodialyzed Patients in a 2-Year Follow-Up

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those who are hemodialyzed (HD), are at significantly high risk of contracting cardiovascular disease and having increased mortality. This study aimed to find potential death predictors, the measurement of which may reflect increased mortality in HD patients, and then combine the most promising ones in frames of a simple death risk assessment model. For this purpose, HD patients (n=71) with acute myocardial infarction in the last year (HD group) and healthy people (control group) as a comparative group (n=32) were included in the study. Various laboratory determinations and non-invasive cardiovascular tests were performed. Next, patients were followed for two years, and data on cardiovascular (CV) deaths were collected. On this basis, two HD groups were formed: patients who survived (HD-A, n=51) and patients who died (HD-D, n=20). To model HD mortality, 21 out of 90 potential variables collected or calculated from the raw data were selected. The best explanatory power (95.5%) was reached by a general linear model with four variables: interleukin 18, 3-nitrotyrosine, albumin, and phosphate. The interplay between immuno-inflammatory processes, nitrosative and oxidative stress, malnutrition, and calcium-phosphate disorders has been indicated to be essential in predicting CV-related mortality in studied HD patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05214872.

Is malnutrition a determining factor of health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients? A cross-sectional design examining relationships with a comprehensive assessment of nutritional status

PURPOSE

To identify relationships between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and nutritional status in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

METHOD

Secondary data from a cross-sectional survey was utilized. HRQOL was assessed for 379 HD patients using the generic Short Form 36 (SF-36) and disease-specific Kidney-Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36). Malnutrition was indicated by malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) ≥ 5, and presence of protein-energy wasting (PEW). The individual nutritional parameters included the domains of physical status, serum biomarkers, and dietary intake. Multivariate associations were assessed using the general linear model.

RESULTS

MIS ≥ 5 was negatively associated with SF-36 scores of physical functioning (MIS < 5 = 73.4 ± 8.0 SE vs MIS ≥ 5 = 64.6 ± 7.7 SE, P < 0.001), role-limitation-physical (MIS < 5 = 65.3 ± 14.3 SE vs MIS ≥ 5 = 52.9 ± 14.0 SE, P = 0.006), general health (MIS < 5 = 53.7 ± 7.5 SE vs MIS ≥ 5 = 47.0 ± 7.1 SE, P = 0.003), and PCS-36 (MIS < 5 = 40.5 ± 3.3 SE vs MIS ≥ 5 = 35.9 ± 3.1 SE, P < 0.001); and KDQOL-36 score of symptoms/problems (MIS < 5 = 78.9 ± 5.6 SE vs MIS ≥ 5 = 74.8 ± 5.4 SE, P = 0.022), but not with PEW by any tool. Of individual nutritional parameters, underweight (68.1 ± 5.4 SE, P = 0.031), normal weight (63.8 ± 2.8 SE, P = 0.023), and overweight (64.3 ± 2.9 SE, P = 0.003) patients had significantly higher physical functioning scores compared to obese patients (44.8 ± 5.5 SE). Serum albumin levels were positively associated with physical functioning (P = 0.041) score. HGS was also positively associated with physical functioning (P = 0.036), and vitality (P = 0.041) scores. Greater dietary phosphorus intakes were significantly associated with lower scores for role limitation-physical (P = 0.008), bodily pain (P = 0.043), and PCS-36 (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition diagnosis by MIS, but not PEW, indicated associations with HRQOL in HD patients. Individual nutritional parameters that related to higher HRQOL were BMI < 30 kg/m², better dietary phosphorus control, greater muscle strength and higher visceral protein pool.

Agreement of Single-Frequency Electrical Bioimpedance in the Evaluation of Fat Free Mass and Fat Mass in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: Protein-energy wasting is related to impairment of quality of life and lower survival of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. The evaluation of body composition, especially fat free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), is important for the prediction of outcomes in these individuals. The aim of this study was to compare the FFM and FM measurements obtained by single-frequency bioimpedance (SF-BIA) and by a multiple frequency bioimpedance (MF-BIA) device, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving adult patients undergoing regular PD, in which we performed SF-BIA, MF-BIA, and DXA at the same visit. To compare the bioimpedance values with DXA, we used: Person correlation (r), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman concordance analysis. Results: The sample consisted of 50 patients in the PD, with mean age of 55.1 ± 16.3 years. Both bioimpedance methods showed a strong correlation (r > 0.7) and excellent reproducibility (ICC > 0.75) compared to DXA. According to the Bland-Altman diagram, SF-BIA showed agreement in body compartment measurements, with no proportionality bias (p > 0.05), without systematic bias for FFM (-0.5 ± 4.9, 95% CI -1.8 to 0.9, p = 0.506), and for FM (0.3 ± 4.6, p = 0.543). MF-BIA did not present a proportionality bias for the FFM, but it underestimated this body compartment by 2.5 ± 5.4 kg (p = 0.002). In addition, MF-BIA presented proportionality bias for FM. Conclusion: SF-BIA was a more accurate assessing method than MBIA for FFM and FM measurements in PD patients. Because it is a low-cost, non-evaluator-dependent measurement and has less systematic bias, it can also be recommended for fat mass and free-fat mass evaluation in PD patients.

Association of Ultrasound-Derived Metrics of the Quadriceps Muscle with Protein Energy Wasting in Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to assess muscle wasting and risk of protein energy wasting (PEW) in hemodialysis (HD) patients using an ultrasound (US) imaging method. PEW was identified using the ISRNM criteria in 351 HD patients. Quadriceps muscle thickness of rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) muscles and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the RF muscle (RF_CSA) were measured using US and compared with other physical measures. Associations of US indices with PEW were determined by logistic regression. Irrespective of gender, PEW vs. non-PEW patients had smaller RF, VI muscles, and RF_CSA (all p < 0.001). US muscle sites (all p < 0.001) discriminated PEW from non-PEW patients, but the RF_CSA compared to bio-impedance spectroscopy had a greater area under the curve (AUC, 0.686 vs. 0.581), sensitivity (72.8% vs. 65.8%), and specificity (55.6% vs. 53.9%). AUC of the RF_CSA was greatest for PEW risk in men (0.74, 95% CI: 0.66–0.82) and women (0.80, 95% CI: 0.70–0.90) (both p < 0.001). Gender-specific RF_CSA values (men < 6.00 cm²; women < 4.47 cm²) indicated HD patients with smaller RF_CSA were 8 times more likely to have PEW (AOR = 8.63, 95% CI: 4.80–15.50, p < 0.001). The US approach enabled discrimination of muscle wasting in HD patients with PEW. The RF_CSA was identified as the best US site with gender-specific RF_CSA values to associate with PEW risk, suggesting potential diagnostic criteria for muscle wasting.

Understanding Development of Malnutrition in Hemodialysis Patients: A Narrative Review

Hemodialysis (HD) majorly represents the global treatment option for patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5, and, despite advances in dialysis technology, these patients face a high risk of morbidity and mortality from malnutrition. We aimed to provide a novel view that malnutrition susceptibility in the global HD community is either or both of iatrogenic and of non-iatrogenic origins. This categorization of malnutrition origin clearly describes the role of each factor in contributing to malnutrition. Low dialysis adequacy resulting in uremia and metabolic acidosis and dialysis membranes and techniques, which incur greater amino-acid losses, are identified modifiable iatrogenic factors of malnutrition. Dietary inadequacy as per suboptimal energy and protein intakes due to poor appetite status, low diet quality, high diet monotony index, and/or psychosocial and financial barriers are modifiable non-iatrogenic factors implicated in malnutrition in these patients. These factors should be included in a comprehensive nutritional assessment for malnutrition risk. Leveraging the point of origin of malnutrition in dialysis patients is crucial for healthcare practitioners to enable personalized patient care, as well as determine country-specific malnutrition treatment strategies.

Malnutrition and inflammation are associated with severity of depressive and cognitive symptoms of old patients affected by chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disabling condition associated with different medical comorbidities including depression and cognitive impairment. We investigated the association between malnutrition, inflammation and depressive/cognitive symptoms in elderly subjects with advanced CKD.

METHODS

We evaluated cross-sectionally 132 elderly subjects (age ≥65 years) with advanced CKD (stage 4-5, non-dialytic-ND) in regular follow up at the outpatient clinic of nephrology. Blood and urinary samples were collected after an overnight fast. All patients were evaluated by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-30 items for severity of depressive symptoms, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) for cognition. Nutritional status was assessed by Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS). Different linear regression models were performed to study the association between clinical variables, diet and inflammatory parameters with the above mentioned rating scale scores. A final linear regression model with only previous statistically significant variables was performed for GDS scores.

RESULTS

Our cohort consisted of 95 males and 37 females with a mean age of 78 ± 7. Female gender (B = 3.20, p < .01), higher MIS (B = 0.29, p = .02) and higher IL-12p70 serum levels (pg/mL) (B = 0.37, p = .03) were associated with severity of depressive symptoms. MIS was associated with the severity of cognitive impairment as assessed by MMSE (B = -0.19, p < .01) and CDT (B = 0.10, p = .03).

CONCLUSION

In elderly subjects affected by CKD the severity of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment is associated with specific inflammatory and nutritional parameters. These results have to be considered as preliminary and need replication by further studies.

Evaluating haemodialysis patient's nutritional status: Body mass index or body cell mass index?

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate which of two combinations of parameters based on International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism recommendations could better identify patients with protein-energy wasting (PEW) and to compare the relationship of these two combinations with other clinical and body composition parameters.

METHODS

This was a multicentre longitudinal study with 24 months of follow-up. The PEW patients were characterized by: Group A (G_A ) - normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) < 1.0 g/kg per day, albumin <3.8 g/dL and body cell mass index (BCMI) < 6.4 kg/m² (n = 203); Group B (G_B ) - nPCR <1.0 g/kg per day, albumin <3.8 g/dL and body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m² (n = 109). All the patients who did not meet these requirements were considered "well-nourished" (G_A : n = 1818; G_B : n = 3292).

RESULTS

When compared to the well-nourished patients, PEW patients in the G_A presented higher age, Kt/V, C-reactive protein, relative overhydration, fat tissue index (FTI); lower creatinine, albumin, nPCR, PTH, haemoglobin, phosphorus, calcium X phosphorus product, potassium, dry weight, BMI, BCMI, lean tissue index, %IDWG . In the G_B , well-nourished patients FTI was significantly higher. In Cox analysis, the combination with BCMI was a strong independent predictor of mortality in these patients (hazard ratio: 1.48; confidence interval: 1.00-2.19; P = 0.048), even after adjustment. Although G_B combination seemed to be also a predictor of death (hazard ratio: 2.67; confidence interval: 1.92-3.71; P < 0.001), when adjusted, the association remained no longer significant.

CONCLUSION

A new combination of parameters including protein intake, albumin and BCMI demonstrated significant associations with other nutrition and inflammation parameters as well as with mortality.

Nutritional parameters as mortality predictors in haemodialysis: Differences between genders

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD). Several studies have described different nutritional parameters as mortality predictors but few have studied whether there are differences between genders. This study aimed to evaluate which nutrition parameters may be associated with mortality in patients undergoing long-term HD depending on their gender.

METHODS

Longitudinal prospective multicentre study with 12 months of follow-up. Anthropometric and laboratory measures were obtained from 697 patients.

RESULTS

Men who died were older, had lower dry weight, body mass index, potassium, phosphorus and albumin, compared with male patients who survived. Female patients who died had lower albumin and nPCR compared with survivors. Kaplan-Meier analysis displayed a significantly worse survival in patients with albumin <3.5 g/dl in both genders and with body mass index <23 kg/m² in men. In the Cox regression analysis patients overall mortality was related to body mass index <23 kg/m² , potassium ≤5.5 mEq/l and phosphorus <3.0 mg/dl for male patients and albumin <3.5 g/dl and normalised protein catabolic rate (nPCR) <0.8 g/kg/day for both genders. Associations between albumin, body mass index and mortality risk continued to be significant after adjustments for age, length of time on dialysis and diabetes for males. However, in women, only albumin persisted as an independent predictor of death.

CONCLUSION

Depending on the gender, different parameters such as protein intake, potassium, phosphorus, body mass index and albumin are associated with mortality in patients undergoing HD. Albumin <3.5 g/dl is an independent mortality predictor in both genders, whereas a body mass index <23 kg/m² is an independent predictor of death, but only in men.

Variables de la desnutrición en pacientes en diálisis

Introducción: El paciente en diálisis va a sufrir una desnutrición proteico-calórica, con diferentes factores implicados en su aparición, lo cual se asocia con una elevadísima morbilidad cardiovascular y mortalidad. Se ha estimado una prevalencia de desnutrición en la población en hemodiálisis del 18-75%, siendo por tanto, un problema de especial relevancia en este tipo de pacientes. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica de los artículos científicos existentes sobre las variables que intervienen en la desnutrición del paciente en diálisis. Metodología: Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica mediante las bases de datos PubMed, Scielo, Pro- Quest. La búsqueda se ha realizado con términos Mesh, con una antigüedad no mayor de 5 años y con distintas palabras clave. Resultados: Se han revisado 19 artículos. La mayoría de los artículos fueron estudios observacionales y de revisión. Los factores que se asocian con desnutrición son la edad, pérdida de masa muscular, baja actividad física y dieta pobre en micronutrientes. Otro factor muy importante, es la inflamación. En cuanto a los métodos diagnósticos, son variados y diferentes, debido a la gran cantidad de variables que influyen en la desnutrición. Conclusiones: La desnutrición en pacientes en diálisis depende de distintas variables y no solamente de la dieta. Los factores que se asocian con desnutrición son mayor edad, pérdida de masa muscular, baja actividad física y dieta pobre en micronutrientes. Además, habría que añadir el doble papel que juega la inflamación en este proceso, pues puede ser tanto consecuencia como factor predisponente a la desnutrición.

A Comparison of 8 Nutrition-Related Tests to Predict Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVE

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) describes a state of decreased protein and energy fuels and is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. As PEW is associated with mortality, it should be detected accurately and easily. This study investigated which nutrition-related test predicts mortality and morbidity best in hemodialysis patients.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Data were used from CONTRAST, a cohort of end-stage kidney disease patients. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), composite score of Protein-Energy Nutritional Status (cPENS), serum albumin, serum creatinine, body mass index, and normalized protein nitrogen appearance rate were assessed at baseline. End points were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and infection. Discriminative value of every test was assessed with Harrell's C statistic and calibration tested using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Ultimately, in every test, 4 groups were created to compare (1) hazard ratios (HR; worst vs best group), (2) HR increase per group, and (3) HR of worst group versus other groups.

RESULTS

In total, 489 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 2.97 years (interquartile range, 1.67-4.47 years). MIS, GNRI, albumin, and creatinine discriminated all-cause mortality equally. SGA, cPENS, body mass index, and normalized protein nitrogen appearance were inferior. cPENS and creatinine were inadequately calibrated. Of the remaining tests, GNRI predicted mortality less when comparing HRs. MIS and albumin predicted mortality equally well. In a subanalysis, these also predicted infection equally well, but MIS predicted cardiovascular events better.

CONCLUSION

Of the 8 investigated nutrition-related tests, MIS and albumin predict mortality best in hemodialysis patients. As one has no added value over the other, we conclude that mortality is most easily predicted in hemodialysis patients by serum albumin.

Association of serum total testosterone concentration with skeletal muscle mass in men under hemodialysis

PURPOSE

Although skeletal muscle wasting can occur in chronic kidney diseases, its relationship with the serum testosterone concentration remains uncertain. This study investigates the relationship between serum testosterone and skeletal muscle mass in men under hemodialysis (HD).

METHODS

Sixty men aged between 41 and 89 years undergoing HD for 15.0 ± 8.1 years were enrolled for this study. The muscle areas of the thigh (TMA) and abdomen (AMA) were measured by computed tomography (CT), and the association between these muscle areas and serum total testosterone was examined with adjustment of age and other nutritional variables.

RESULTS

The mean serum total testosterone in our HD patients (6.33 ± 2.90 ng/mL) was not lower than that of the Japanese general population, but showed a positive correlation with TMA (r = 0.39, p < 0.05), AMA (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), serum creatinine (r = 0.33, p < 0.05), and the creatinine generation rate (r = 0.26, p < 0.05). Serum total testosterone was inversely correlated with age (r = -0.32, p < 0.05), CRP (r = -0.31, p < 0.05), and IL-6 (r = -0.24, p < 0.05). A multiple-regression analysis showed both serum total testosterone and age to be an independent determinant of the muscle mass in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified testosterone as a determinant of muscle mass in HD men.