ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2022 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2022, please visit the archives.

Abstract: TH-PO790

The Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Its Impact on CV Events and Mortality Among ESKD Patients on Dialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Session Information

Category: Geriatric Nephrology

  • 1200 Geriatric Nephrology

Authors

  • Wathanavasin, Wannasit, Charoenkrung Pracharuk Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Banjongjit, Athiphat, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Avihingsanon, Yingyos, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Praditpornsilpa, Kearkiat, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Eiam-Ong, Somchai, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Susantitaphong, Paweena, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Background

Sarcopenia in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients requiring dialysis is a frequent complication but remains under-recognized problem. This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the global prevalence of sarcopenia and explore whether it impacts on the clinical outcomes especially cardiovascular events and mortality in dialysis patients.

Methods

The eligible studies were searched from PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials up to 31 March 2022. We included cross-sectional and cohort studies that reported the prevalence of sarcopenia including low muscle mass and low muscle strength and adverse effects such as cardiovascular events and mortality. The random-effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence rate. Associations between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes were expressed as odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Cochran’s Q statistic and I2 test were used to measure the presence of heterogeneity. Publication bias were also tested by Funnel plot and Egger’s test.

Results

This meta-analysis included 41 studies with 7,576 patients. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia in dialysis patients was 25.6% (95% CI 22.1 to 29.4%). Among various diagnostic criteria, the highest prevalence was found in Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria [36.9%, 95% CI 30.4 to 44.2%]. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with higher mortality risk [adjusted OR 1.83 (95% CI 1.40 to 2.39)] and cardiovascular events [adjusted OR 3.80 (95% CI 1.79 to 8.09)]. Additionally, both low muscle mass and low muscle strength were independently related to increased mortality risk in dialysis patients [OR 1.71; 95% CI (1.20 to 2.44), OR 2.15 (95% CI 1.51 to 3.07), respectively.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis revealed that sarcopenia was highly prevalent among dialysis patients and shown to be an important predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Future intervention research to alleviate this burden of disease in dialysis patients is needed.