Bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived phase angle as a determinant of protein-energy wasting and frailty in maintenance hemodialysis patients: retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Phase angle (PA), measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been studied as indicator of nutritional status or muscle function in hemodialysis (HD) patients. It remains unclear if the phase angle is associated protein-energy wasting (PEW) or frailty, which are common complication in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether BIA-derived PA is a marker of PEW or frailty in HD patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 116 adult HD patients (35% female, 64 ± 12 years of age) in a single dialysis center. Patients were classified according to the PA quartiles into four groups; 1) first quartile: PA < 3.7°, 2) second quartile: PA 3.7-4.1°, 3) third quartile: PA 4.2-4.9°and 4) forth quartile: PA ≥ 5.0°. International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) criteria and Japanese version of Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria were used to identify PEW and frailty. RESULTS: The lower PA group was associated with a greater risk of PEW (35% vs. 24% vs. 21% vs. 3%; p = 0.032), frailty (59% vs. 40% vs. 21% vs. 3%; p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the first quartile group was at a significantly greater risk of both PEW and frailty compared with the fourth quartile group after adjusting for other confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Lower PA was associated with a greater risk of PEW and frailty in HD patients.

Clinical Effectiveness of Intermittent Infusion Hemodiafiltration Using Backfiltration of Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid Compared with Predilution On-Line Hemodiafiltration.

BACKGROUND: In conventional hemodialysis (HD) treatment, excessive water removal sometimes induces a rapid drop in blood pressure. Intermittent infusion hemodiafiltration (I-HDF) has been developed to improve patients' peripheral circulation by repeated intermittent infusion during HD treatment. SUMMARY: A prospective, multicenter, parallel group comparative trial examined the clinical effectiveness of I-HDF compared with predilution on-line HDF (pre-HDF), the most popular on-line HDF therapy in Japan. Patients were allocated to 2 groups after matching for age (± 5 years), dry weight (± 5 kg), and presence/absence of diabetes. After informed consent was obtained, 36 patients (18 pairs) participated in the trial. The results showed no difference in clinical condition or quality of life (QOL) scores between the 2 therapy groups. The rate of reduction in systolic blood pressure initially showed no difference between the groups, but decreased slightly as the trial proceeded after changing from HD therapy. There was also no difference in the incidence rate of treatments initially, although this significantly decreased in both groups as the trial proceeded. Rates of ß2-microglobulin removal were significantly higher in the pre-HDF group than in the I-HDF group. At the same time, the amount of albumin leakage during treatment was significantly greater in the pre-HDF group. Key Messages: The clinical condition and QOL of patients receiving I-HDF was not inferior to those receiving pre-HDF. Pre-HDF demonstrated a significantly higher removal rate of middle- and larger-molecular-weight solutes and higher albumin leakage compared with I-HDF.

Effects of Intradialytic Resistance Exercise on Protein Energy Wasting, Physical Performance and Physical Activity in Ambulatory Patients on Dialysis: A Single-Center Preliminary Study in a Japanese Dialysis Facility.

Patients under hemodialysis present protein-energy wasting (PEW), which is related with higher mortality rates. The study aimed to determine whether intradialytic resistance exercise training could improve physical performance, physical activity, and PEW in hemodialysis patients. In single center study, 75 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in an intradialytic resistance exercise training consisting of 20 min of adapted leg press, with a gymnastic ball, 3 days/week, during 9 months on the same day of hemodialysis therapy. Physical performance by short physical performance battery (SPPB), physical activity by life space assessment (LSA), and PEW score based on the nomenclature proposed by the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism in 2008 were assessed at baseline and after 9 months. Intradialytic resistance exercise training significantly improved SPPB score, LSA score, and PEW score (all, P < 0.05). In addition, intradialytic resistance exercise training improved SPPB score in patients with moderate and severe PEW subgroups (P < 0.05), associated with reduced prevalence of the patients with moderate to severe PEW (53% vs. 36%, P < 0.05). Intradialytic resistance exercise training was safe and effective to improve physical performance, physical activity, and PEW in hemodialysis patients.