Abdominal obesity in normal weight versus overweight and obese hemodialysis patients: Associations with nutrition, inflammation, muscle strength, and quality of life

Sarcopenic obesity and its relation with muscle quality and mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Sarcopenia is prevalent in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis (HD), and is associated with poor outcomes, while obesity may be protective. Sarcopenic obesity is associated with increased frailty, morbidity and mortality in the general population. Myosteatosis, i.e., muscle fat infiltration, has major effects on muscle strength and physical performance, but is poorly investigated in the nephrology setting. In the present study we aimed to assess the association between sarcopenic obesity, as diagnosed by abdominal CT, and mortality. Moreover, the relationship between myosteatosis, sarcopenic obesity and mortality was also investigated.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study in which ESKD patients on HD submitted to unenhanced abdominal CT for clinical reasons at least 6 months after dialysis initiation were evaluated for sarcopenic obesity and myosteatosis, defined as intermuscular fat area and low attenuation muscle area. Sarcopenic obesity was diagnosed in cases of low abdominal skeletal muscle area and high total fat area. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis with Youden index was used to determine the cut-off for high total fat area. Intermuscular fat area and low attenuation muscle area were evaluated by applying the Hounsfield unit of interest (-190; -30, and -29; +29 respectively). Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between predictors and mortality risk.

RESULTS

We enrolled 212 patients, aged 68.8 (±14.7) years, 65.5% (139/212) male. Median follow-up was 19.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.7-35) months. Sarcopenic obesity was diagnosed in 19.8% of patients and was associated with increased mortality (HR: 3.29 (1.72; 6.27), P < 0.001), and with the presence of myosteatosis. Both intermuscular fat area and low attenuation muscle area were associated with increased mortality in adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with sarcopenic obesity have increased myosteatosis. Sarcopenic obesity and myosteatosis are associated with increased mortality in patients on HD.

Obesity Weight Loss Phenotypes in CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study

Introduction

Although people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity have important motivations to lose weight, weight loss is also associated with health risks. We examined whether patterns of change in systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum albumin level, and fat-free mass (FFM) can help to differentiate between healthy and high-risk weight loss in this population.

Methods

Using data from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study (CRIC), we estimated a joint multivariate latent class model with 6 classes to identify distinct trajectories of body mass index (BMI), albumin, and SBP among participants with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 at baseline), accounting for informative missingness from death. In a secondary analysis, we fit a 6-class model with BMI and FFM.

Results

Among 2831 participants (median baseline BMI 35.6, interquartile range [IQR] 32.4-40.0 kg/m2), median follow-up was 6.8 (IQR 4.8-12.9) years, median age was 61 (IQR 54-67) years, 53% were male, 50% were non-Hispanic Black, and 82% were trying to control or lose weight at baseline. Latent classes were associated with mortality risk (5-year cumulative incidence of mortality 6.8% and 1.5% in class 6 and 3, respectively). Class 6 had the highest mortality rate and was characterized by early, steep BMI loss, early serum albumin decline, and late SBP increase. In the secondary analysis, a class characterized by steep BMI and FFM loss was associated with the highest death risk.

Conclusions

Among adults with CKD and obesity, BMI loss with concomitant serum albumin or FFM loss was associated with a high risk of death.

Age, hemodialysis time, gait speed, but not mortality, are associated with muscle quality index in end-stage renal disease

BACKGROUND

The muscle quality index (MQI) has proven to be an interesting clinical measurement in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In clinical practice, its interpretation can be biased by fat mass (FM) distribution. This study aims to explore the arm MQI association with body composition, clinical factors, and mortality.

METHODS

It was analytical longitudinal and exploratory, that included patients from two-center, over 18 years old, of both genders in treatment by HD. The follow-up period was 32 months, and mortality was the clinical outcome. Demographical and clinical data were collected in the patient's medical records. Body composition was evaluated using octopolar multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured by a dynamometer and the time required to walk 3 m was applied to obtain gait speed. The baseline associations with MQI (HGS/arm muscle mass) were examined by multivariate linear regression. Cox regressions evaluated the associations with mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients in HD were included. Mean age was 50.93 ± 14.10 years, 71.13 % were male. Age (β = -0,096, p = 0.024), HD time (β = -0.023, p = 0.032), total skeletal muscle mass (β = -0.475, p < 0.001) were inversely associated with MQI and gait speed had a direct association with MQI (β = 8514, p = 0.002). The prevalence of mortality was 29.76 %, of which 37.29 % were men (p = 0.020). Low MQI was not associated with mortality (Hz = 0.80, CI95 % = 0.34; 1.91, p = 0.629).

CONCLUSION

The arm MQI was associated with an indicator of general functional capacity (gait speed), but was not associated with fat measures in baseline and mortality after 32 months of follow-up.

Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients in Greece: Associations with Socio-Economic, Anthropometric and Nutritional Factors

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious public health problem that, in recent decades, has taken on significant dimensions with serious effects on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the QoL of a sample of hemodialysis patients in Greece and the possible correlations with socio-economic and anthropometric factors, as well as with adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD). During September-November 2019, one-hundred and five (n = 105) patients with end-stage CKD (63.4 ± 13.09 years of age) who were regularly monitored in five public and private hemodialysis units in the region of Attica, completed a demographic questionnaire, the MedDietScore questionnaire, and the KDQOL-SF questionnaire. Females presented worse QoL than males (p < 0.05), and older patients presented worse QoL than younger patients (p < 0.01). Patients of higher educational status presented better QoL scores than those of lower educational status (p < 0.01), while those with low financial status presented lower QoL scores than patients of middle and high financial status (p < 0.01). Obese patients had lower QoL scores than overweight patients (p < 0.05), and overweight males scored higher than normal weight males (p < 0.05). Age was negatively correlated to the total and most of the scales of QoL (p < 0.01). A majority of the patients (90.5%) showed a moderate adherence to MD, although "work status" was the only QoL scale that was correlated to MD. Age, educational status and financial status accounted for 28.1% of the variance in the KDQOL-SF total score. Hemodialysis patients need support in various levels, such as social, financial and educational, as well as nutritional counseling to adopt a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight, in order to achieve a better quality of life.

The role of diabetes mellitus in the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise intervention on patients' muscle function

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to identify the role of diabetes mellitus in the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise intervention among haemodialysis patients.

METHODS

In this multicentre study 90 dialysed patients were allocated to the experimental (EXG, n=57) or control group (CNG, n=33). In EXG, we included 20 diabetic and 37 non-diabetic patients. In CNG, we enrolled 8 diabetic and 25 non-diabetic patients. EXG underwent a 12-week supervised, progressive, intradialytic resistance training programme, while CNG stayed inactive during dialysis. Baseline, post-interventional and post-follow-up assessments of maximal force during hip extension (HE), hip flexion (HF) and knee extension (KE) contractions were completed in both groups of patients.

RESULTS

HE increased in diabetic and non-diabetic EXG patients (diabetic EXG, change: +14.5N; 95% CI=-5.5 to +34.5; non-diabetic EXG, +18.6N; 95% CI=+3.4 to +33.8) and diabetic CNG patients (change: +17.9N; 95% CI=-9.2 to +44.9). Only non-diabetic CNG patients experienced a decrease in HE (change: -22.8N; 95% CI=-36.9 to -8.7, P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance training improved muscle function among dialysis patients regardless of the presence of diabetes mellitus. We found that non-diabetic patients lose their muscle function extensively during inactivity, while diabetic patients retain their muscle function.

Profile of Obesity and Comorbidities and their Correlation among Hemodialysis Patients, Elbasan

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, obesity is an enormous problem in the public health of undeveloped countries and developing countries. Being overweight, especially obesity in internal organs contributes to increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease. There is no complete data available in our country on the correlation between obesity and comorbidity diseases among persons undergoing dialysis. So we do not know how BMI affects Diabetic or Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) patients among dialysis patients. We, therefore, undertook this study to evaluate the association of obesity with mobility in hemodialysis patients at the Elbasan dialysis center. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was performed in 160 patients who have undergone the dialysis process at Elbasan Dialysis Center for three years (2016-2018). A standardized questionnaire was adopted to obtain data from all patients. The subjects were divided a priory into 4 categories based on the body mass index (BMI) (underweight <19, normal 19-25, pre-obese 25-30 and obese ≥30 kg/m2). Software SPSS version 20.0 is used to analyze and evaluate the data. Kaplan-Meier estimate were used to find the correlation between BMI with their prognostic abilities like cardiovascular disease and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. We have considered statistically significant every p value less than 0.05. RESULT: Over all 160 patients, the men presented the highest number of cases compared to female 73.1% and 26.9% respectively. The mean age resulted 52.7 ± 15.6 years and age groups 50-59 years old and 60-69 years old with 29.4% and 34.3% respectively were the most frequent in this study. About the category of BMI index 8.8% patients resulted underweight, 45% were in normal weight, 28.2% were pre-obese and 6.6% were obese. We observed significant correlations between BMI and some of the demographic data such as: gender, age, place of residence, educational level, smoking and alcohol consumption for p <0.05. Changes in patient survival rates between BMI with DMT2 and cardiovascular disease are not statistically significant (long range p> 0.05). In terms of mortality, a strong significant correlation was observed with the age of 50-69 years and with the index of hemoglobin, urea and creatinine after dialysis with p value <0.05. CONCLUSION: In the paradoxical epidemiology, the overweight becomes chronic on hemodialysis patients and serves as a protective factor which is associated with better survival, but we weren`t found significant association between the BMI and some of the variables analyzed. This study presents a small number of chronic patients on hemodialysis center in Elbasan city. There is a need to better understand the reverse epidemiological causes in individuals on dialysis, which can help us improve the poor outcome in this population.

Comparison of novel visceral obesity indexes with traditional obesity measurements in predicting of metabolically unhealthy nonobese phenotype in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Normal-weight maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with abdominal obesity exhibited a more proatherogenic profile than overweight and obesity patients with abdominal obesity, highlighting the importance of early identification of metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO) in this population. Visceral fat accumulation plays a crucial role in the development of MUNO. Lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI) have been proved as reliable visceral obesity markers. The Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and a body shape index (ABSI) are newly discovered indexes of visceral obesity and have been reported to be associated with multiple metabolic disorders. There are limited studies investigating the associations between different visceral obesity indices and risk of MUNO, especially in hemodialysis patients. Moreover, no general agreement has been reached to date regarding which of these obesity indices performs best in identifying MUNO. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of MUNO in MHD patients and compare the associations between different adiposity indices (CVAI, ABSI,VAI, LAP, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHtR)) with MUNO risk in this population.

METHODS

We conducted a multi-center cross-sectional study in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. 1302 nonobese adult MHD patients were included in our study. MUNO was defined as being nonobese and having the presence of > = 2 components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Nonobese was defined as BMI less than 25 kg/m². VAI, LAP, CVAI, ABSI, BMI, WC and WHtR were calculated. Logistic regression analyses and receiver operator curve (ROC) analyses were performed. Results 65.6% participants were metabolically unhealthy. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated that of the seven obesity indices tested, the VAI (AUC 0.84 for women and 0.79 for men) followed by LAP (AUC 0.78 for women and 0.72 for men) had the highest diagnostic accuracy for MUNO phenotype while ABSI exhibited the lowest AUC value for identifying MUNO phenotype CONCLUSIONS: Metabolically unhealthy is highly prevalent in nonobese MHD patients. VAI and LAP outperformed CVAI in discriminating MUNO in MHD patients. Though ABSI could be a weak predictor of MUNO, it is not better than WHtR, WC and BMI.

Dialysis of the Obese Patient: Meeting Needs for a Growing Epidemic

Increasing population obesity and associated metabolic consequences has led to increased number of obese patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. While obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, obese dialysis patients present a seeming paradox for survival benefit, given other acute intervening illnesses for those on dialysis with loss of lean body mass overtime. Challenges remain in providing adequate renal replacement options and therapy for this growing segment of obese patients on dialysis which are discussed in this article.

Creatinine index as a predictive marker of sarcopenia in patients under hemodialysis

PURPOSE

Sarcopenia is a clinical condition that comprises declined skeletal muscle (SM) mass and SM strength, and is a risk factor for physical disability, impaired quality of life, and advanced morbidity and mortality in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The existing difficulty in evaluating SM mass and consequently of sarcopenia, with affordable and practical methods in clinical practice, is well established. The purpose of this study is to examine the creatinine index (CrI), a surrogate of SM mass, as a potential predictive marker of sarcopenia.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we included 130 patients on HD with a mean age of 66.17 ± 12.47 years. SM mass and SM strength were evaluated with CrI and hand grip strength, respectively. Anthropometric, adiposity, nutritional, and biochemical assessments were also performed. Partial correlation and multivariate regression analyses were applied to investigate the association between CrI and SM strength.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed that mid-arm circumference, calf circumference, Geriatric nutritional index, and albumin-to-total protein ratio were positively associated with SM strength. Multivariate model indicated that CrI (β = 2.05, p < 0.001) and dialysis duration (β =- 0.53, p = 0.001) were independently related to SM strength. The significant positive correlation between CrI and SM strength remained unaffected even after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Creatinine Index was significantly associated with SM strength highlighting its value as a new emerging practical in clinical setting sarcopenia predictive marker in HD patients.

The role of diabetes mellitus in the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise intervention on patients' muscle function

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to identify the role of diabetes mellitus in the effectiveness of intradialytic exercise intervention among haemodialysis patients.

METHODS

In this multicentre study 90 dialysed patients were allocated to the experimental (EXG, n=57) or control group (CNG, n=33). In EXG, we included 20 diabetic and 37 non-diabetic patients. In CNG, we enrolled 8 diabetic and 25 non-diabetic patients. EXG underwent a 12-week supervised, progressive, intradialytic resistance training programme, while CNG stayed inactive during dialysis. Baseline, post-interventional and post-follow-up assessments of maximal force during hip extension (HE), hip flexion (HF) and knee extension (KE) contractions were completed in both groups of patients.

RESULTS

HE increased in diabetic and non-diabetic EXG patients (diabetic EXG, change: +14.5N; 95% CI=-5.5 to +34.5; non-diabetic EXG, +18.6N; 95% CI=+3.4 to +33.8) and diabetic CNG patients (change: +17.9N; 95% CI=-9.2 to +44.9). Only non-diabetic CNG patients experienced a decrease in HE (change: -22.8N; 95% CI=-36.9 to -8.7, P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance training improved muscle function among dialysis patients regardless of the presence of diabetes mellitus. We found that non-diabetic patients lose their muscle function extensively during inactivity, while diabetic patients retain their muscle function.

The investigation effect of weight loss on serum vaspin, apelin-13, and obestatin levels in obese individual

Objectives

It was aimed to investigate if there were any significant corresponding changes on adipokine levels in obese subjects who achieved a 10% reduction in body weight.

Methods

Thirty obese and 25 healthy adults were enrolled in present study, and serum levels of vaspin, apelin-13, obestatin, and insulin were determined with the ELISA method.

Results

The serum obestatin and apelin-13 values of the obese group obtained as basal and after weight loss was significantly lower than in controls (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively); however, weight loss did not cause significant changes on these parameters in obese groups (p>0.05). The vaspin level did not differ between the groups (p>0.05). The obese group had characterized increased serum insulin and insulin resistance assessment by the homeostatic assay (HOMA-IR) levels compared to controls (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively); also, weight loss caused a significant decrease in these parameters compared to basal levels (p<0.01). No significant correlation was detected among the vaspin, apelin-13 and obestatin levels in the obese group (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Obese individuals exhibited decreased levels of apelin-13 and obestatin. Moreover, 10% weight loss caused a significant reduction of insulin resistance, but no significant change was detected on apelin-13, obestatin, and vaspin levels.

Bed-side measures for diagnosis of low muscle mass, sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity in patients with chronic kidney disease under non-dialysis-dependent, dialysis dependent and kidney transplant therapy

Muscle depletion and sarcopenic obesity are related to a higher morbimortality risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated bed-side measures/indexes associated with low muscle mass, sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity in CKD and proposed cutoffs for each parameter. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People revised consensus applying dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and hand grip strength (HGS), and obesity according to the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Anthropometric parameters including calf (CC) and waist (WC) circumferences and WC/height (WC/H); bioelectrical impedance data including appendicular fat free mass (AFFM) and fat mass index (FMI) were assessed. ROC analysis and area under the curve (AUC) were applied for performance analyses. AFFM and CC presented the best performances for low muscle mass diagnosis-AFFM AUC for women was 0.96 and for men, 0.94, and CC AUC for women was 0.89 and for men, 0.85. FMI and WC/H were the best parameters for obesity diagnosis-FMI AUC for women was 0.99 and for men, 0.96, and WC/H AUC for women was 0.94 and for men, 0.95. The cutoffs (sensibility and specificity, respectively) for women were AFFM≤15.87 (90%; 96%), CC≤35.5 (76%; 94%), FMI>12.58 (100%; 93%), and WC/H>0.66 (91%; 84%); and for men, AFFM≤21.43 (98%; 84%), CC≤37 (88%; 69%), FMI>8.82 (93%; 88%), and WC/H>0.60 (95%; 80%). Sensibility and specificity for sarcopenia diagnosis were for AFFM+HGS in women 85% and 99% and in men, 100% and 99%; for CC+HGS in women 85% and 99% and in men, 100% and 100%; and for sarcopenic obesity were for FMI+AFFM in women 75% and 97% and in men, 75% and 95%. The tested bed-side measures/indexes presented excellent performance.

Biological basis of lymphocyte ratios for survival prediction in hemodialysis patients: a longitudinal study

PURPOSE

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios have been proposed as emerging markers of inflammation and prognosis in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, to date, no longitudinal performance of these indices is known. The study's purpose was to examine the longitudinal relationship between NLR, PLR, inflammatory and nutritional parameters in MHD patients and how their changes over time associate with adverse clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A historical longitudinal cohort study was conducted using a clinical database which included 554 patients (mean age, 67.6 ± 14.2 years; 34% women) from a single center receiving MHD from November 2007 to July 2018. NLR, PLR, C-reactive protein (CRP) and nutritional parameters were recorded at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months, followed by 58 additional months of clinical observations.

RESULTS

In a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for baseline demographics and clinical parameters, including white blood cell count, NLR and PLR were both associated with CRP levels at any given time point observation (linear estimates (95% CI): 1.53, (0.11-2.95) and 1.55 (0.15-2.93), respectively). For each 1.0-unit increase in NLR over time, the fully adjusted all-cause mortality hazard ratio using Cox models with the time-varying risk effect was 1.04 (95% CI 1.01-1.07, P = 0.006). However, when CRP was included in this model, the relationship was no longer significant. PLR's performance did not match the prognostic marker.

CONCLUSION

Longitudinal changes in NLR mimic CRP changes and predict all-cause mortality risk in MHD patients.

Approaches to Obesity Management in Dialysis Settings: Renal Dietitian Perspectives

OBJECTIVES

Over 40% of individuals in the United States with end-stage kidney disease have obesity. Little is known about renal dietitian perspectives on obesity management in the setting of dialysis dependence.

DESIGN AND METHODS

An online 21-item survey was distributed to 118 renal dietitians via individual outreach and a professional organization e-mail listserv. Four themes were explored: the burden of obesity among dialysis patients, concepts of healthy weight loss, weight loss approaches, and challenges of obesity management in dialysis settings. Respondents were asked to rank approaches and biomarkers for obesity management from 0 (least important or not used) to 100 (most important). Free text fields were provided in each category for additional comments.

RESULTS

Thirty-one renal dietitians responded to the survey (26% response rate). The majority of respondents (90%) indicated that access to kidney transplantation was the main reason that dialysis patients with obesity desired weight loss. Calorie restriction was rated as the most common weight loss approach, and dry weight as the most important weight loss biomarker. Nearly 40% of respondents do not alter their nutritional approach when dialysis patients with obesity are losing weight, and 42% of respondents do not monitor changes in waist circumference. Exercise, diet counseling, and stress management were variably prioritized as weight loss management strategies. Barriers to obesity management in dialysis settings included lack of time, lack of training in weight loss counseling, and gaps in current renal nutritional guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Despite the high prevalence of obesity among individuals with end-stage kidney disease, the results of this survey suggest that current approaches to obesity management in dialysis settings are highly variable. Many renal dietitians lack time to counsel patients on healthy weight loss strategies. Nutritional guidelines are also needed to support people with dialysis dependence and obesity who desire or require weight loss.

Obesity-related cognitive impairment: The role of endothelial dysfunction

Obesity is a global pandemic associated with macro- and microvascular endothelial dysfunction. Microvascular endothelial dysfunction has recently emerged as a significant risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment. In this review, we present evidence from clinical and preclinical studies supporting a role for obesity in cognitive impairment. Next, we discuss how obesity-related hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis lead to cognitive impairment through induction of endothelial dysfunction and disruption of the blood brain barrier. Finally, we outline the potential clinical utility of dietary interventions, exercise, and bariatric surgery in circumventing the impacts of obesity on cognitive function.