Comparison between general obesity and abdominal adiposity to estimate cardiovascular disease prevalence in individuals with chronic kidney disease: results from NHANES 2005-2016.

Abdominal obesity, regardless of overall obesity, is associated with metabolic abnormalities and with direct impact on cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to estimate cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The data analyzed is from 2005-2016 cycles of the NHANES. A total of 2,825 participants with CKD were included in this study, and most of them had a high BMI, 66.1%, to be exact (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m² if age <65 or >27.0 if age ≥ 65). The prevalence rates of high WC (≥102 cm for men or ≥88 cm for women) and high WHtR (WHtR>0.5) in the study population were 70.0% and 91.0%, respectively. The results of this study suggest that BMI is a good indicator of the risk of CVDs in individuals with CKD. In addition, the results show that WC and WHtR are associated with CVDs in non-overweight individuals of both sexes. These results indicate that the assessment of abdominal fat is essential even in non-overweight patients because the risk of CVDs cannot be identified in this subpopulation using only BMI.

Sex and population-specific cutoff values of muscle quality index: Results from NHANES 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Muscle quality index (MQI) is used to measure the quality of the muscles. It is defined as the ratio of muscle strength per unit of muscle mass, but since this might vary by rage and ethnicity, we aimed to develop sex, and population-specific normative data and cutoff values for MQI (extremally low and low) using the arm or appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) obtained from a population-representative sample. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis included data from 4849 volunteers (aged 20-59 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Measures of handgrip strength (HGS) were performed using a hand dynamometer. ASM was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Arm ASM mass was used to calculate MQIArm [dominant HGS/dominant arm ASM (kg/kg)]; ASM was used to calculate MQIApp [dominant HGS/ASM (kg/kg)]; and the sum of the non-dominant hand and dominant hand were used to calculate MQItotal [HGS sum/ASM (kg/kg)]. Cutoff values were derived from a young reference subgroup (n = 1625 aged, 20-39 years), with low and extremely low MQI defined as 1 and 2 sex-specific standard deviations below the mean, respectively. RESULTS: MQIArm, MQIApp, and MQITotal differed by sex and population studied. Overall, using the proposed cutoffs, men showed lower values of MQIArm than women, and higher MQIApp, and MQITotal values. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Asians had higher values of MQI while non-Hispanic Black people had lower values. CONCLUSION: MQIs cutoffs were established for both sexes and different populations studied. MQIArm, MQIApp, and MQITotal values were lower after the fifth-decade in men, but not in women.

Low hand grip strength is associated with worse functional capacity and higher inflammation in people receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations of hand grip strength (HGS) with body composition, functional capacity, muscle quality, and inflammatory markers in people receiving maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in people receiving maintenance hemodialysis. HGS was measured by hydraulic dynamometer on the upper limb without fistula. Participants were stratified into low or adequate HGS, based on population-specific cutoff points. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and functional capacity by the Short Physical Performance Battery and timed up-and-go tests. In addition, serum creatinine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP) were measured before the dialysis session. RESULTS: A total of 67 participants (41.8% women, 58.2% male; ages 54.1 ± 11.7 y) were included. Those with low HGS had worse functional capacity than those with adequate HGS (timed up-and-go test, 10.7 ± 1.0 versus 8.5 ± 0.8 sec, respectively; P < 0.001). IL-6 and us-CRP were higher in those with low HGS than their counterparts (IL-6: 2.7 ± 0.3 versus 1.9 pg/mL, P = 0.03; us-CRP: 14.8 ± 3.0 versus 4.7 ± 1.9 mg/L, P = 0.03). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that appendicular lean mass, us-CRP, age, sex, and seven-point subjective global assessment score were associated with HGS. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with low HGS showed higher inflammation and lower functional capacity. In addition to muscle mass, inflammation and nutritional status also affect HGS..

A Protocol of Intradialytic Exercise for Improvements in Inflammatory Status, Body Composition, and Functional Capacity.

Skeletal muscle wasting has been well-documented among hemodialysis patients. This catabolic condition can be induced by numerous factors, including low-grade inflammation, and is associated with impairments in functional capacity and quality of life, as well as an increased mortality risk. We previously showed that 12 weeks of intradialytic resistance training increases lean mass, functional capacity, and the quality of life of hemodialysis patients. This chapter provides the details of a protocol of intradialytic exercise that leads to improvements in inflammatory status, body composition, and functional capacity.

Intradialytic Resistance Training Improves Functional Capacity and Lean Mass Gain in Individuals on Hemodialysis: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of high vs moderate loads of intradialytic resistance training (RT) on body composition, sarcopenia prevalence, functional capacity, inflammatory markers, and quality of life (QoL) in individuals on hemodialysis. DESIGN: A pilot randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Two hemodialysis centers. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals on hemodialysis (N=80; 51% men, aged 30-75y) in treatment for at least 3 months, adequately dialyzed (Kt/V≥1.2, where K is dialyzer clearance in mL/min, t is time, and V is volume of water) with vascular access via arteriovenous fistula. INTERVENTIONS: The 12 weeks of intradialytic RT was performed 3 times per week. The training groups were: high-load intradialytic group (HLG, 8-10 repetitions), moderate-load intradialytic group (MLG, 16-18 repetitions), and control group (CG, stretching exercise). The total training volume was equalized among training groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lean leg mass was assessed by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; functional capacity was assessed by Short Physical Performance Battery and Timed Up and Go test; and QoL was assessed by Kidney Disease QoL Instrument, inflammatory markers, and sarcopenia. RESULTS: After the training period, the HLG increased lean leg mass compared with the CG. The HLG also displayed improvements in the pain and physical function domains. The skeletal muscle index and functional capacity increased in both RT protocols. The prevalence of sarcopenia was reduced 14.3% and 25% in the MLG and HLG, respectively, while there was an increase of 10% in the CG. No differences were observed in cytokines after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: High-load intradialytic RT was associated with gains in lean leg mass and QoL while functional capacity, appendicular muscle mass, and sarcopenia status were improved regardless of the RT load.