Hand Grip and Leg Muscle Strength in Hemodialysis Patients and Its Determinants

Chronic kidney disease is associated with chronic inflammation and progressive loss of peripheral muscle strength and the ability to exercise, and these changes are highly pronounced in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). We evaluated hand grip strength (HGS) and leg muscle strength (LMS) in patients receiving HD and attempted to identify factors associated with muscle strength.

We screened HGS (opposite the fistula side) and LMS (both sides) in HD patients at a single center (n = 112) by using digital hand and leg dynamometers (T.K.K. 5401 and 5710e/5715, Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd., Niigata, Japan).

The mean age of patients was 62.6 years, and 73.2% of the patients were male. Diabetes was the cause of kidney failure in 50% of the patients, and the median HD vintage was 34 months. A total of 77.7% of patients reported that they participated in regular home-based exercise, and 29.5% of patients regularly participated in hospital-based resistance exercise. HGS and LMS showed good correlation (r = 0.715, P < 0.001). HGS (25.1 vs. 17.0 kg) and LMS (30.1 vs. 20.4 kg) were greater in males (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) than in females. Older patients (≥ 60 years) showed less LMS than younger patients in both males and females (P = 0.012 and P = 0.037, respectively), but HGS did not differ according to age. Patients performing regular home- or hospital-based exercise showed higher HGS than those who did not exercise (24.2 vs. 18.6 kg, P = 0.011), but LMS was not significantly different (29.3 vs. 23.6 kg, P = 0.185). Multiple linear regression analysis proved that male sex, younger age, and any type of exercise were factors associated with improved HGS and LMS. Groups of older age (≥ 60 years), male sex, and shorter duration of HD (< median) benefitted more from exercise.

Sex, age, and exercise were the most important determinants of muscle strength in HD patients. We need to encourage patients to engage in regular home or group exercise from the beginning of dialysis and introduce new feasible forms of exercise for HD patients.