MP470
SARCOPENIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. The prevalence of sarcopenia on elderly patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of decreased muscle mass and strength alone or combined (true sarcopenia) in elderly patients with ESRD according to different methods and cutoff limits and evaluated the agreement between dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and surrogate methods for the assessment of muscle mass.

METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, data from 74 elderly (age > 60 years) patients with ESRD were recorded. Sarcopenia was considered when the patient fit one criteria for low muscle mass assessed by DXA, sum of skinfold thicknesses (SKF), calf circumference and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and one for low muscle strength evaluated by handgrip dynamometer. Normal values for sarcopenia were those recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP).

RESULTS: Decreased muscle strength was found in 63 (85,13 %) of the patients. The prevalence of decreased muscle mass varied from 4,05 to 72,97% and of sarcopenia (decreased muscle mass and strength combined) from 4,05 to 62,16 %, depending on the method and cutoff limit applied. A small percentage of patients (2,7 to 14,86%) were classified as sarcopenic by more than one diagnostic criteria. The agreement between DXA and the surrogate methods to assess muscle mass showed better kappa coefficients with SKF (P < 0,01).

CONCLUSIONS: A wide prevalence of sarcopenia is observed depending on the method and cutoff limit applied. This may limit extrapolate on to clinical practice. SKF were the surrogate methods to assess muscle mass with the best concordance with DXA in elderly patients with ESRD.