Phase angle as a marker for sarcopenia in cirrhosis

The Diagnostic Accuracy and Cutoff Value of Phase Angle for Screening Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Phase angle (PhA) declines with age and is a reliable marker for muscle function, making it a potential screening indicator for sarcopenia. However, studies examined the reliability and validity of PhA for detecting sarcopenia, yielding inconsistent results. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the accuracy and cutoff value of PhA for screening sarcopenia and examine the potential confounding factors.

DESIGN

This is a meta-analysis.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to September 18, 2023. Eighteen studies (6184 participants) were included reporting the diagnostic accuracy of PhA for screening sarcopenia.

METHODS

Pooled accuracy [ie, the computed area under the curve value (AUC)] and cutoff value interval for screening sarcopenia were estimated using a random-effects model. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The AUC value was 0.81. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 70%. The calculated 95% CI of the cutoff value of PhA for screening sarcopenia falls between 4.54° and 5.25°. The results of meta-regression analyses showed that ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), health status, and diagnostic criteria were the main factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy for screening sarcopenia (with all P values < 0.01).

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

PhA may serve as a robust screening tool for sarcopenia, and the recommended cutoff interval falls between 4.54° and 5.25°. Ethnicity, BMI, health status, and diagnostic criteria can affect PhA's efficacy in sarcopenia screening.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived phase angle predicts possible Sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of possible sarcopenia is notably high among maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Possible sarcopenia, defined as a decrease in muscle strength and/or somatic function, is an early and reversible condition between non-sarcopenic and sarcopenia, and early recognition and intervention for possible sarcopenia is important for preventing adverse outcomes and improving the quality of life of these patients. This study aimed to establish a simple and effective model for screening and identifying MHD patients at high risk of possible sarcopenia by using 50 kHz-Whole Body Phase Angle (PhA), with a specific focus on gender differences.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2023 at the Wenjiang Hemodialysis Center in the Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. A total of 244 MHD patients, including 130 males and 114 females, were enrolled. Data were collected prospectively, including demographic information and physical measurements. All participants provided informed consent before enrollment. Measurements were taken post-dialysis to ensure consistency. The whole-body phase angle was measured using the InBody S10 device, grip strength was measured using an electronic grip strength tester, and physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) was also calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 244 patients receiving hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. Among these, 109 patients were categorized as non-sarcopenic, 111 as having possible sarcopenia, and 24 as sarcopenic. The prevalence of sarcopenia among MHD patients is 9.8%, while the prevalence of possible sarcopenia is 45.5%. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that for male patients, the AUC of PhA for predicting possible sarcopenia was 0.798, with a sensitivity of 80.36%, specificity of 69.70%, and a cutoff value of 6.20°. For female patients, the AUC of PhA was 0.701, with a sensitivity of 70.91% and specificity of 62.79%, and a cutoff value of 5.70°.

CONCLUSIONS

PhA may be a useful and simple predictor of the risk of possible sarcopenia in MHD patients, and more research is needed to further promote the use of PhA in possible sarcopenia.

Limited predictive value of bioelectrical phase angle for the development of sarcopenia in older Europeans

BACKGROUND

Despite the emerging interest in phase angle (PhA), a non-invasive marker of cell hydration and nutritional status, no previous study has reported the prospective association between PhA and incident sarcopenia. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the association of baseline PhA in older subjects without sarcopenia with the development of new sarcopenia as outcome.

METHODS

Six-hundred ninety-six subjects without sarcopenia aged ≥75 years enrolled in an international multicenter observational study were included. Sarcopenia was assessed according to the revised EWGSOP2 criteria at baseline and in follow-up visits at 12 and 24 months. Muscle strength was assessed through the handgrip strength test using a hydraulic grip strength dynamometer, muscle mass was assessed by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) was estimated. Physical performance was assessed by Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).

RESULTS

Participants who developed sarcopenia were older, less educated, had higher prevalence of osteoporosis, and lower baseline cognitive function, SPPB, handgrip strength and ASMM than those without sarcopenia. Baseline PhA was significantly lower in subjects developing sarcopenia. Nevertheless, after adjusting for all potential covariates including baseline components of sarcopenia in multiple logistic regression, neither PhA as continuous variable nor different levels of PhA were any more significant predictors of sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

As an indicator of cells function, PhA could be a potential useful early marker in identifying older people at risk of developing sarcopenia but its practical applicability remains uncertain with the present data.

Mid-arm muscle circumference cutoff points in patients with cirrhosis: Low muscle mass related to malnutrition predicts mortality

OBJECTIVES

Muscle loss is one of the phenotypic criteria of malnutrition, is highly prevalent in patients with cirrhosis, and is associated with adverse outcomes. Mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) estimates the skeletal muscle mass and is especially helpful in cases of fluid overload. This study aimed to propose MAMC cutoff points for patients with cirrhosis and demonstrate its association with 1-year mortality.

METHODS

This is an analysis of cohort databases from five reference centers in Brazil that included inpatients and outpatients with cirrhosis aged ≥18 y. The nutritional variables obtained were the MAMC (n = 1075) and the subjective global assessment (n = 629). We established the MAMC cutoff points stratified by sex based on the subjective global assessment as a reference standard for malnutrition diagnosis, considering the sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index. An adjusted Cox regression model was used to test the association of MAMC cutoff points and 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

We included 1075 patients with cirrhosis, with a mean age of 54.8 ± 11.3 y; 70.4% (n = 757) male. Most patients had alcoholic cirrhosis (47.1%, n = 506) and were classified as Child-Pugh B (44.7%, n = 480). The MAMC cutoff points for moderate and severe depletion were ≤21.5 cm and ≤24.2 cm; ≤20.9 cm and ≤22.9 cm for women and men, respectively. According to these cutoff points, 13.8% (n = 148) and 35.1% (n = 377) of the patients had moderate or severe MAMC depletion, respectively. The 1-year mortality rate was 17.3% (n = 186). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for sex, age, MELD-Na, and Child-Pugh scores, a severe depletion in MAMC was an independent increased risk factor for 1-year mortality (HR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.24-2.35, P < 0.001). Each increase of 1 cm in MAMC values was associated with an 11% reduction in 1-year mortality risk (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.85-0.94, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Low MAMC classified according to the new cutoff points predicts mortality risk in patients with cirrhosis and could be used in clinical practice.

The Role of Combined Muscle Ultrasound and Bioimpedentiometry Parameters for Sarcopenia Diagnosis in a Population of Hospitalized Older Adults

BACKGROUND

For the study of quantitative and qualitative muscle parameters, ultrasound and bioelectric impedance analysis are reliable, non-invasive, and reproducible. The aim of this study was to test the combined role of those techniques for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in a population of hospitalized older males and females.

METHODS

A total of 70 subjects were recruited, including 10 healthy adults and 60 hospitalized elderly patients with a good level of independence and cooperation, with and without sarcopenia. The rectus femoris cross-sectional area (CSA), thickness, echogenicity, and compressibility were measured with ultrasound echography. The phase angles (PhAs) and skeletal muscle mass were calculated by bioimpedence analysis. The muscle quality index (MQI) was calculated as the product of CSA and PhA.

RESULTS

Muscle compressibility was greater and PhA was lower in sarcopenic when compared with non-sarcopenic subjects. The threshold values for sarcopenia diagnosis in both sexes of CSA, of PhA, and of the MQI were identified. The obtained CSA values showed an AUC of 0.852 for women and 0.867 for men, PhA of 0.792 in women and 0.898 in men, while MQI was 0.900 for women and 0.969 for men.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly calculated cut-off values of CSA, PhA, and MQI predicted the presence of sarcopenia with good sensitivity and specificity values. The use of the MQI proved to be more promising than the separate use of CSA and PhA in both male and female subjects.

Prevalence of and associated factors for sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. However, the prevalence of and associated factors for developing sarcopenia in this population remain to be determined.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to summarize the prevalence, characteristics, and associated factors of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Electronic searches were performed from inception to June 9, 2022 to identify the eligible studies. We meta-analyzed the prevalence of sarcopenia in overall patients with cirrhosis and subgroups. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using the random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 55 studies involving 13,158 patients from 17 countries were included. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 40.1 % (95 % CI 35.4%-44.9 %) in patients with cirrhosis. The pooled prevalence was higher in males, Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis, decompensated stage, ascites, subjective global assessment class C cirrhosis, and when sarcopenia was defined by L3-SMI (third lumbar-skeletal muscle index) at a higher cutoff. In multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted OR 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00-1.07), male (adjusted OR 4.75, 95 % CI 2.72-8.28), lower body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.73-0.83), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (adjusted OR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.19-1.72), but not ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is a prevalent complication, and older age, male patients, lower BMI, and patients with ALD are associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

Prediction of the sarcopenia in peritoneal dialysis using simple clinical information: A machine learning-based model

INTRODUCTION

Sarcopenia is associated with significant cardiovascular risk, and death in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Three tools are used for diagnosing sarcopenia. The evaluation of muscle mass requires dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or computed tomography (CT), which is labor-intensive and relatively expensive. This study aimed to use simple clinical information to develop a machine learning (ML)-based prediction model of PD sarcopenia.

METHODS

According to the newly revised Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019), patients were subjected to complete sarcopenia screening, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and five-time chair stand time test. Simple clinical information such as general information, dialysis-related indices, irisin and other laboratory indices, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) data were collected. All data were randomly split into training (70%) and testing (30%) sets. Difference, correlation, univariate, and multivariate analyses were used to identify core features significantly associated with PD sarcopenia.

RESULT

12 core features (C), namely, grip strength, body mass index (BMI), total body water value, irisin, extracellular water/total body water, fat-free mass index, phase angle, albumin/globulin, blood phosphorus, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and prealbumin were excavated for model construction. Two ML models, the neural network (NN), and support vector machine (SVM) were selected with tenfold cross-validation to determine the optimal parameter. The C-SVM model showed a higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67-1.00), with a highest specificity of 0.96, sensitivity of 0.91, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.96, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.91.

CONCLUSION

The ML model effectively predicted PD sarcopenia and has clinical potential to be used as a convenient sarcopenia screening tool.

Phase angle and body composition: A scoping review

The aim of the study was to map evidence on the association between phase angle (PhA) and body composition in populations healthy and clinical populations). A systematic search for information regarding the topic was conducted in nine electronic databases (CINAHL, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Science Direct, MEDLINE and Web of Science) between October and November 2021. Studies with different designs, which allowed extracting information about the relationship between PhA and body composition (body cell mass [BCM], muscle tissue, bone mineral content, lean mass, total fat mass, visceral fat, and lean soft tissue mass [LSTM]) were included. Of the total of 11,913 initially identified studies, 59 were included after reading titles, abstracts, full texts and references. Most studies (40.67%; n = 24) presented data from Brazilian samples. With regard to the design of studies, 15 (25.42%) had longitudinal design. The age group of studies was wide, with studies involved 3-year-old children and 88-year-old adults. Body fat mass was evaluated by 31 studies (52.54%) in which 11 observed inverse relationships, nine studies showed direct relationships and 11 observed no relationship. Regarding lean mass, muscle mass, and fat-free mass components, most studies observed direct relationship with PhA (n = 37; 86.04%). It could be concluded that the phase angle was directly associated with lean mass and muscle mass in different age groups (children, adolescents, adults and older adults) and in people with different health diagnoses (HIV, cancer, hemodialysis, sarcopenia and without the diagnosis of diseases). Regarding body fat and the other investigated components, there is not enough evidence to establish the direction of associations.

Detection of Sarcopenia in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a body composition assessment method. We aimed to determine its accuracy in the detection of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), using skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the level of third lumbar vertebra (L3-SMI) obtained using multislice computed tomography as the reference method. Patients with LC were enrolled in the period October 2019-March 2022 and follow-ups were conducted until January 2023. Their BIA parameters were compared against L3-SMI, and BIA cut-off values were proposed using AUROC analysis. Patients underwent outcome analysis based on obtained clinical characteristics. A total of 106 patients were included. We found a fair correlation between BIA parameters with the L3-SMI. We determined cut-off values of ≤11.1 kg/m2 for BIA-SMI (Se 73%, Sp 66%, AUROC 0.737, p < 0.001) and ≤5.05° for phase angle (PA) (Se 79%, Sp 60%, AUROC 0.762, p < 0.001) in the detection of sarcopenia. The relative risk of death was 2.2 times higher in patients with skeletal muscle mass (SMM) ≤ 36.5 kg. SMM was significantly associated with outcome in Kaplan-Meier analysis. This non-invasive and simple method that showed fair performances and a very good outcome prediction could provide for the unmet need for fast and affordable detection of sarcopenia in patients with LC and should be further evaluated.

Osteosarcopenia in NAFLD/MAFLD: An Underappreciated Clinical Problem in Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease (CLD), including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its advanced form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), affects a significant portion of the population worldwide. NAFLD is characterised by fat accumulation in the liver, while NASH is associated with inflammation and liver damage. Osteosarcopenia, which combines muscle and bone mass loss, is an emerging clinical problem in chronic liver disease that is often underappreciated. The reductions in muscle and bone mass share several common pathophysiological pathways; insulin resistance and chronic systemic inflammation are the most crucial predisposing factors and are related to the presence and gravity of NAFLD and to the worsening of the outcome of liver disease. This article explores the relationship between osteosarcopenia and NAFLD/MAFLD, focusing on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this condition in patients with CLD.

Association of phase angle values and sarcopenia in older patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia presents an accelerated and accentuated muscle loss in patients with heart failure (HF), leading to a worse prognosis for these patients. This study sought to assess the association of phase angle (PA) values with sarcopenia and its components, as well as to establish a PA cutoff point to predict outcomes such as hospitalization and mortality in older adult patients with HF.

METHODS

Sarcopenia diagnosis followed the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Anthropometric, bioelectrical impedance (PA and body composition), functional capacity and inflammatory markers were assessed.

RESULTS

Included patients were predominantly male (67%) and White, with a mean age of 69 ± 7 years, and a predominance of New York Heart Association I and II functional classes (82.1%) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (70.8%). Of the total sample, 23.6% were identified as sarcopenic. Mean PA values were lower in patients with sarcopenia (4.9 ± 0.9 and 6.0 ± 0.8°; P < 0.001). The cutoff point detected for sarcopenia in the receiver operating characteristic curve was 5.45°, which is an independent predictor for sarcopenia. PA values below this cutoff point were also associated with each of the sarcopenic components evaluated. PA proved to be an independent predictor for hospitalization (P = 0.042) in the entire sample studied.

CONCLUSION

PA is associated with diagnostic components of sarcopenia and the cutoff point 5.45° proved to be an independent predictor of sarcopenia and hospitalization >3 years in older adult patients with HF.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived phase angle predicts sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the association between phase angle (PhA) and sarcopenia and evaluate its performance as a sarcopenia predictor in patients receveing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODS

All enrolled patients underwent handgrip strength (HGS) and the 6-m walk test, and muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the PhA as an independent predictor of sarcopenia after adjusting for confounding factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of PhA in sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty-one patients receiving hemodialysis were enrolled in this study, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was 28.2%. Patients with sarcopenia presented a lower PhA value (4.7° vs 5.5°; P < 0.001), lower muscle mass index (6.0 vs 7.2 [kg/m² ]; P < 0.001), lower HGS (19.7 vs 26.0 [kg]; P < 0.001), and lower walk speed (0.83 ± 0.27 vs 0.92 ± 0.23 [m/s]; P = 0.007) than patients without sarcopenia. The odds of patients receiving MHD presenting with sarcopenia increased as PhA decreased, even after adjustment (odds ratio = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.18-0.85; P = 0.019). ROC analysis revealed that the best cutoff value of PhA for sarcopenia was 4.95° in patients receiving MHD.

CONCLUSION

PhA may be a useful and simple predictor for predicting patients undergoing hemodialysis who are at risk of sarcopenia. To further facilitate the application of PhA in the diagnosis of sarcopenia, more research need to be conducted.

The use of phase angle in patients with digestive and liver diseases

Diseases of the liver and the digestive system can lead to malnutrition through an action of reduced food intake or nutrient use, inflammation and impaired metabolism, which result in substantial changes in body composition. Frequently, malnutrition manifests itself with weight loss and reduced muscle mass. However, weight loss and body mass index lack sensitivity to detect the loss of muscle mass and are not informative in distinguishing body water compartments and in characterizing their distribution. This issue is particularly relevant to these two disease models, which are frequently associated with fluid volume imbalances. Phase angle is a useful indicator for cell membrane integrity, water distribution between the intracellular and extracellular spaces and prediction of body cell mass as it is described by measured components of electrical impedance. Malnutrition, inflammation and oxidative stress impair electric tissue properties leading to lower values of PhA. In patients with inflammatory bowel and liver diseases, PhA was consistently found to be related to nutritional status and body composition, particularly the depletion of lean body mass and sarcopenia. It has been associated with prognosis, disease stage and severity and found to be helpful in monitoring fluid shifts and response to interventions.

Association of phase angle with sarcopenia in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In chronic musculoskeletal pain patients, detection of sarcopenia is of significant clinical interest. Phase angle, which can be measured through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), can detect sarcopenia; however, the evidence in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between phase angle and sarcopenia in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Our hypothesis was that phase angle would be a useful indicator to identify sarcopenia in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS

A total of 190 patients (51 men and 139 women) with chronic musculoskeletal pain were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Patient data of backgrounds, numeric rating scale score for pain, skeletal muscle index, and phase angle assessed using BIA were retrospectively reviewed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients (26.7%), including 10 men (19.6%) and 41 women (29.5%), were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Phase angle, sarcopenia-related factors, age, and body mass index (BMI) differed significantly in patients with and without sarcopenia. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly correlated with phase angle and BMI. The areas under the curve exhibited high accuracy in discriminating sarcopenia in men and moderate accuracy in both sexes and in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Phase angle may be a valid discriminator of sarcopenia in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Prognostic role of bioelectrical impedance phase angle for critically ill patients: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Bioelectrical impedance-derived phase angle (PA) has exhibited good prognostic values in several non-critical illnesses. However, its predictive value for critically ill patients remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between PA and survival in such a patient population.

Materials and methods

We searched for relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database up to Jan 20, 2022. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the association between the baseline PA after admission with survival. We further conducted subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses to explore the sources of heterogeneity.

Results

We included 20 studies with 3,770 patients. Patients with low PA were associated with a significantly higher mortality risk than those with normal PA (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.97-3.05, P < 0.00001). Compared to survivors, non-survivors had lower PA values (MD 0.82°, 95% CI 0.66-0.98; P < 0.00001). Similar results were also found when pooling studies reported regression analyses of PA as continuous (OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.52-0.79, P < 0.00001) or categorical variable (OR = 2.42; 95% CI 1.76-3.34; P < 0.00001). These results were further confirmed in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that PA may be an important prognostic factor of survival in critically ill patients and can nicely complement the deficiencies of other severity scoring systems in the ICU setting.

Decrease phase angle one year after Roux-en-Y bypass and sleeve gastrectomy is related to risks to protein nutritional status

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Phase angle (PhA) has been used as an indicator of nutritional status. However, the significance of PhA reduction after bariatric surgery is less known. This study evaluated PhA and its relation with biochemical parameters and prognostic inflammatory and nutritional indices at a one-year follow-up of patients subjected to Roux-en-Y bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

METHODS

Our final sample consisted of 25 patients subjected to RYGB and 11 to SG. Body mass index, fat-free mass, fat mass, PhA, serum transthyretin (TTR), albumin, C-reactive protein, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, and prognostic inflammatory and nutritional indices were evaluated at four time points: before and approximately two, six, and 12 months after RYGB or SG. One-way repeated measures ANOVA or the Friedman test with Tukey's post hoc test was used depending on data distribution. The correlation between PhA and biochemical parameters and indices were evaluated using Spearman's or Pearson's correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

Except for serum albumin, all parameters significantly decreased over time (p < 0.001). Only the RYGB group showed transthyretinTR values below reference ones. Prognostic indices significantly decreased in both groups (p < 0.001). We found a significant positive correlation of PhA with TTR in both RYGB (r = 0.475; p < 0.001) and SG (r = 0.457; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that at a one-year follow-up after bariatric surgery, lower PhA values might indicate a concomitant loss of visceral protein and a worsening of protein nutritional status.

The combination of phase angle and age has a good diagnostic value for sarcopenia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Aims

There are limited studies on phase angle and sarcopenia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. So, we want to explore the association between phase angle and sarcopenia and find a more sensitive indicator for diagnosing sarcopenia.

Methods

We included 101 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients from March 2022 to August 2022 and measured the phase angle and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis. All patients had their handgrip strength measured. Then, we divided patients into the sarcopenia (n = 30) group and non-sarcopenia (n = 71) group according to the sarcopenia diagnostic strategy formulated by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. We used logistic regression to explore the risk factors of sarcopenia. We applied Receiver-operating characteristics curves to determine the diagnostic accuracy of these risk factors.

Results

After adjustments for sex, age, diabetes, BMI, extracellular water ratio, extra water, serum creatinine, total kt/v, and residual kt/v, phase angle correlated to handgrip strength and lowered limb muscle mass but not to skeletal muscle mass, upper arm muscle circumference, upper limb muscle mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. In the multivariate logistic model, low phase angle and older age are risk factors for sarcopenia. The AUROC of phase angle for sarcopenia is 0.79 (95%CI, 0.70–0.86, P &lt; 0.01) for both sexes, 0.70 and 0.85 for females and males. After we combined age and phase angle as diagnostic indicators of sarcopenia, the AUROC is 0.91 (95%CI, 0.83–0.96, P &lt; 0.0001) in both sexes, 0.89 and 0.93 for females and males.

Conclusion

This study illustrates that age 52 or older is an independent risk factor for sarcopenia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. Phase angle can act as a predictor of sarcopenia in those patients. But the combination of age and phase angle is more valuable in diagnosing sarcopenia.

Bioimpedance phase angle and sarcopenia in older patients with prostate cancer

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with the bioimpedance phase angle (PhA) in older patients with prostate cancer, and to determine the optimal cutoff for the PhA in patients with sarcopenia and prostate cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional analysis enrolled patients with prostate cancer aged ≥60 years. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass and PhA estimated by bioimpedance analysis, grip strength, the five-time chair stand test, gait speed, the Short Physical Performance Battery, the 2-min walk test and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form were obtained at enrollment. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the 2019 consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

RESULTS

In total, 119 male participants (mean age = 70.7 ± 6.1 years) were available for analysis. A multivariable linear regression model revealed that age, body mass index and the maximal grip strength value were associated with the PhA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of the PhA for sarcopenia diagnosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.64-0.90, P < 0.001), with a PhA cutoff value of 4.87°.

CONCLUSIONS

PhA estimated by bioimpedance analysis may be utilized as useful clinical biomarker for reflecting muscle strength and sarcopenia in older patients with prostate cancer. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; ••: ••-••.

Different combinations of the GLIM criteria for patients awaiting a liver transplant: Poor performance for malnutrition diagnosis but a potentially useful prognostic tool

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Studies using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for patients with liver cirrhosis are limited. This study aimed to assess the impact of malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria on the outcomes of patients awaiting a liver transplant (LTx) and compare these criteria with Subjective Global Assessment (SGA).

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included adult patients awaiting LTx. Patient clinical data, nutritional status according to various tools including SGA, and resting energy expenditure were assessed. The distinct phenotypic and etiologic criteria provided 36 different GLIM combinations. The GLIM criteria and SGA were compared using the kappa coefficient. The variables associated with mortality before and after the LTx and with a longer length of stay (LOS) after LTx (≥18 days) were assessed by Cox regression and logistic regression analyses, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 152 patients were included [median age 52.0 (interquartile range: 46.5-59.5) years; 66.4% men; 63.2% malnourished according to SGA]. The prevalence of malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria ranged from 0.7% to 30.9%. The majority of the GLIM combinations exhibited poor agreement with SGA. Independent predictors of mortality before and after LTx were presence of ascites or edema (p = 0.011; HR:2.58; CI95%:1.24-5.36), GLIM 32 (PA-phase angle + MELD) (p = 0.026; HR:2.08; CI95%:1.09-3.97), GLIM 33 (PA + MELD-Na≥12) (p = 0.018; HR:2.17; CI95%:1.14-4.13), and GLIM 34 (PA + Child-Pugh) (p = 0.043; HR:1.96; CI95%:1.02-3.77). Malnutrition according to GLIM 28 (handgrip strength + Child-Pugh) was independently associated with a longer LOS (p = 0.029; OR:7.21; CI95%:1.22-42.50).

CONCLUSION

The majority of GLIM combinations had poor agreement with SGA, and 4 of the 36 GLIM combinations were independently associated with adverse outcomes.

A Combined Assessment Method of Phase Angle and Skeletal Muscle Index to Better Predict Functional Recovery after Acute Stroke

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate whether combination assessment of phase angle (PhA) and skeletal muscle index (SMI), was a possible predictor of physical function at discharge from the hospital in patients with acute stroke.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

In this retrospective cohort study that was conducted from May 2020 and July 2021, we determined PhA and SMI using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in patients with acute stroke. Patients were classified as normal, low PhA + SMI group, pre-sarcopenia (low SMI only), and dynapenia (low PhA only) using cut-off points (men: SMI < 7.0 kg/m2, PhA < 4.05 degrees; women: SMI < 5.7 kg/m2, PhA < 3.55 degrees). The main outcome was physical function based on functional independence measure motor (FIM-motor) score at discharge. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the association between low PhA + SMI and FIM-motor score.

RESULTS

We included 244 patients (161 men; mean age, 73.9 years). low PhA + SMI was found in 21 (8.6%) patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that low PhA + SMI was independently associated with the FIM-motor score at discharge (β= -0.099, 95%CI: -0.193,-0.005, p = 0.039). The PhA cutoff values for determining good functional results using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 5.36 for men (sensitivity = 0.769, specificity = 0.586, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.682), and 3.85 for women (sensitivity = It was 0.881, specificity = 0.481, AUC). Further, pearson correlation coefficient showed that PhA was significantly related to FIM-motor score in patients with mild or moderately severe stroke (mild: r = 0.472, p < 0.001; moderate: r = 0.524, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of low PhA and SMI values at baseline, was an independent predictor of physical function at discharge in patients with acute stroke. The findings highlighted the importance of measuring PhA and SMI using BIA in patients with acute stroke.

Predictive value of phase angle in sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in mainland China and to explore the role of phase angle (PhA) in sarcopenia.

METHODS

We enrolled 346 patients on MHD with regular dialysis and collected relevant data. According to the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group, the patients were placed into one of two groups: sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia. The differences between groups were compared and the statistically significant factors were included in binary logistic regression analysis to screen for independent factors influencing sarcopenia. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve were used to evaluate the predictive value of PhA in sarcopenia.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 32.66% in patients on MHD. Logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was significantly associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.15; P < 0.001), body mass index (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58-0.76; P < 0.001), and PhA (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15-0.40; P < 0.001). The best cutoff value of PhA on sarcopenia was 4.67° for both sexes, 4.67° and 4.60° for men and women, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that PhA was an important influencing factor of sarcopenia adjusted by age and body mass index in Asian patients on MHD. PhA may have an optimistic predictive value to identify sarcopenia in these population, and it is convenient and accessible in clinical practice than the diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia.

Association Between Phase Angle and Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Introduction: There is limited data on the association between phase angle (PhA) and sarcopenia using both muscle strength and muscle mass in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). We aimed to evaluate the association between PhA and sarcopenia in patients undergoing PD.

Methods: We enrolled prevalent patients undergoing PD (n = 200). The patients were divided into tertiles based on their PhA level: low (n = 66; 1.9–4°), middle (n = 68; 4.1–4.9°), and high tertiles (n = 66; 5–8°). PhA was measured by a bioimpedance analysis. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured in all the patients. Body compositions were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Results: Handgrip strength (HGS) and/or lean mass indices showed poorer trends in the low tertile than in the other tertiles. PhA was positively associated with HGS and/or muscle mass index. Multivariate analyses showed that the patients in the low tertile had an odds ratio of 9.8 (p = 0.001) and 52.79 (p < 0.001) for developing sarcopenia compared with those in the middle and high tertiles, respectively. Subgroup analyses using these variables yielded results similar to those from the total cohort.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that PhA is independently associated with muscle mass, strength, and sarcopenia in patients undergoing PD. This result suggests that PhA can be used as a valuable and simple predictor for identifying patients undergoing PD who are at risk of sarcopenia.

Association of phase angle with muscle strength and aerobic fitness in different populations: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence on the association of phase angle (PhA) with muscle strength and aerobic fitness in different populations.

METHODS

A systematic search on this topic was performed in nine electronic databases (CINAHL, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, and Web of Science) in January 2021. Studies with different designs that permitted extraction of information about the relationships between PhA and muscle strength and between PhA and aerobic fitness were included. A total of 4446 studies were initially identified; 34 were included after reading of the title, abstract, full text, and references. Four of the studies included had a longitudinal design, with samples consisting of participants ages 6 to 92 years. Thirty-two of the 34 studies evaluated the relationship between PhA and muscle strength, two cross-sectional studies investigated only PhA and aerobic fitness, and three cross-sectional studies evaluated both components (muscle strength and aerobic fitness).

RESULTS

PhA was directly associated with muscle strength in 30 cross-sectional studies and two longitudinal studies; the two studies that did not find a direct relationship had a cross-sectional design. For aerobic fitness, the five studies identified reported a direct relationship with PhA.

CONCLUSIONS

PhA is directly associated with muscle strength and aerobic fitness in different age groups (children, adolescents, adults, and older adults) and in people with different health conditions (human immunodeficiency virus, Crohn's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bariatric surgery, kidney transplant, cancer, hemodialysis, and sarcopenia).

Definition of Sarcopenia in Chronic Liver Disease

Sarcopenia, which is characterized by decline in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, is common in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Several consensus definitions for community-dwelling elderly people have been proposed, and these recommend the use of various tools and tests to assess muscle properties and performance. These measurement tools have also been applied in patients with CLD and have been useful for predicting prognosis. However, sarcopenia and its diagnostic criteria specific to patients with CLD have not yet been clearly defined. In addition, fluid retention and body composition should be considered when sarcopenia is assessed in patients with CLD. This review aims to introduce definitions of sarcopenia and diagnostic tools used in patients with CLD.

Correlation of phase angle with sarcopenia and its diagnostic value in elderly men with cancer

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study was to investigate the association of phase angle (PA) with sarcopenia and its components and to evaluate the effectiveness of PA in sarcopenia diagnosis in older men (>65 y of age) with cancer.

METHODS

The study included older men with non-small cell lung cancer and digestive tract cancer who were hospitalized in the past 3 y. General characteristics such as age, body mass index, and tumor stage were gathered. Mid-upper arm muscle circumstance, calf circumstance, and handgrip strength (HGS) were measured. PA and appendicular skeletal muscle mass were examined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. According to the diagnostic criteria of the 2019 consensus of Asian Sarcopenia Working Group, the patients were divided into two groups: non-sarcopenia and sarcopenia. The study included 445 patients with a 22.2% prevalence of sarcopenia.

RESULTS

PA was different between the non-sarcopenia and sarcopenia groups (5.02° versus 4.18°; P < 0.001). Pearson correlation showed that PA was related to diagnostic and confounding factors of sarcopenia. After adjusting for all potential confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis showed diagnostic components of sarcopenia (HGS and skeletal muscle mass index [SMI]) could predict 25.3% of PA variation and logistic regression analysis showed PA (odds ratio, 0.309; P < 0.001) were related to sarcopenia. Then receiver operating characteristic curve showed the cutoff value of 4.25° with area under the curve of 0.785 for PA.

CONCLUSIONS

PA is related to diagnostic components of sarcopenia, HGS and SMI. PA can be useful in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in older male patients with cancer. The cutoff value proposed in this study was 4.25°.

New anthropometric and biochemical models for estimating appendicular skeletal muscle mass in male patients with cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES

The use of easily accessible methods to estimate skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in patients with cirrhosis is often limited by the presence of edema and ascites, precluding a reliable diagnosis of sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to design predictive models using variables derived from anthropometric and/or biochemical measures to estimate SMM; and to validate their applicability in diagnosing sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Anthropometric and biochemical data were obtained from 124 male patients (18-76 y of age) with cirrhosis who also underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and handgrip strength (HGS) assessments to identify low SMM and diagnose sarcopenia using reference cutoff values. Univariate analyses for variable selection were applied to generate predictive decision tree models for low SMM. Model accuracy for the prediction of low SMM and sarcopenia (when associated with HGS) was tested by comparison with reference cutoff values (appendicular SMM index, obtained by DXA) and clinical sarcopenia diagnoses. The prognostic value of the models for the prediction of sarcopenia and mortality at 104 wk of follow up was further tested using Kaplan-Meier graphics and Cox models.

RESULTS

The models with anthropometric variables, alone and combined with biochemical variables, showed good accuracy (0.89 [0.83; 0.94] and 0.90 [0.84; 0.95], respectively) and sensitivity (0.72 [0.56; 0.85] and 0.74 [0.59; 0.86], respectively) and excellent specificity (0.96 [0.90; 0.99] and 0.97 [0.92; 0.99], respectively) in predicting SMM. Both models showed excellent accuracy (0.94 [0.89; 0.98], good sensitivity (0.68 [0.45; 0.86]), and excellent specificity (1.00 [0.96; 1.00]) in predicting sarcopenia. The models predicted mortality in patients with sarcopenia, with the likelihood of death sixfold greater relative to patients not predicted to have sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our simple and inexpensive models provided a practical and safe approach to diagnosing sarcopenia patients with cirrhosis along with an estimate of their mortality risk when other reference methods are unavailable.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) -derived phase angle in sarcopenia: A systematic review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived phase angle (PhA) has been gaining attention in the clinical evaluation of nutritional status because it is thought to be a proxy of water distribution and body cell mass; it is also associated to muscle strength and is an effective predictor of different clinical outcomes. Since an association may be expected between PhA and sarcopenia (defined by low skeletal muscle mass and impaired muscle function), the aim of this systematic review was to evaluate: a) changes in PhA due to sarcopenia; b) prevalence of sarcopenia according to PhA values; c) derivation of phase angle cut-offs for detecting sarcopenia; d) sarcopenia and PhA as predictors of clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic research on electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) from inception to January 31st, 2020 was performed according to PRISMA checklist. Using PICOS strategy, "P" corresponded to participants of any age, gender or ethnicity, "I" designated diagnosis of sarcopenia, "C" indicated subjects without sarcopenia, "O" corresponded to PhA, and "S" selected all study types. Methodological quality was assessed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) quality assessment tool.

RESULTS

Through the initial literature search and after removing duplicates and excluding papers by screening titles and abstracts, 79 potentially relevant studies were examined. Thirteen studies (7668 subjects) met the inclusion criteria. The overall risk of bias was low. Sarcopenia was associated with a significant lower PhA in seven studies out of eight, while five studies out of six reported a high prevalence of sarcopenia was in patients with low PhA. Different cut-off point values from 4.05 to 5.05° have been derived for the identification of sarcopenia. PhA and sarcopenia were independent predictors of survival in cancer patients and geriatric hospitalized patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from the selected papers demonstrate that PhA is decreased in sarcopenic subjects and the prevalence of sarcopenia is higher in subjects with low PhA. Further studies are needed to determine to what extent PhA may be valuable in detecting low muscle quality and/or identifying sarcopenia.

Phase Angle Is an Independent Predictor of 6-Month Mortality in Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the nutrition status through phase angle (PA) and its association with mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed with hospitalized decompensated cirrhotic patients. Nutrition status was assessed by PA, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) within 72 hours of hospital admission. The best PA cutoff point for malnutrition diagnosis was determined by ROC curve analysis, considering the SGA as the reference standard. Predictors of 6-month mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for Child-Pugh and MELD scores, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

RESULTS

This study included 97 patients, 63% male (n = 61), with a mean age of 60.1 ± 10.3 years. The median follow-up time of patients was 11.2 months (IQR, 2.4-21). Overall mortality was 58.8% (n = 57) and 6-month mortality was 35.1% (n = 34). Nutrition assessment according to BIVA indicated a risk for cachexia and normal hydration. Patients with values of PA ≤5.52° were considered malnourished. Malnourished patients according to PA (58.8%, n = 57) had a higher risk of 6-month mortality (HR = 3.44; 95% CI, 1.51-7.84; P = .003), and each increase of 1° in PA values was associated with a reduction of 53% in 6-month mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The PA is an independent predictor of 6-month mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Therefore, PA may be useful to assess the nutrition status and identify patients at the highest risk of mortality in clinical practice.