Association of self-reported physical activity with sarcopenia in patients with kidney failure

Sarcopenia is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on maintenance dialysis treatment. Physical inactivity might have a role in the development of sarcopenia. However, supportive evidence in maintenance dialysis patients is scarce. The association between physical activity and sarcopenia has not been studied extensively in this population.

A single institution cross-sectional study was performed. Sarcopenia was defined in accordance with the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2019 and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Clinical assessment methods included bioelectrical impedance analysis, anthropometric measurement, handgrip strength and physical performance appraisal. The level of physical activity was quantified using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE) and stratified into 3 categories: sedentary (0-40), light physical activity (41-90) and moderate to intense physical activity (>90). Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between sarcopenia and physical activity.

Eighty-one maintenance dialysis patients were included with a median age of 75 years (IQR 67-80) and 63 % were male. An inverse relationship between moderate-to-intense physical activity and sarcopenia was identified (OR = 0.10, 95 % CI 0.01-0.51) following adjustment for confounding factors, while no associations were found with low physical activity when compared to sedentary lifestyle.

Moderate-to-intense physical activity is a protective factor for sarcopenia in maintenance dialysis population, where sarcopenia is highly prevalent. Our findings suggest that emphasis should be placed on the intensity of physical activity when recommending physical exercise to patients to help prevent sarcopenia.