TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), body size and composition are significantly associated with physical functioning and quality-of-life, according to a study published in the April issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Macy Martinson, M.D., from the Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, and colleagues obtained measurements of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of mid-thigh muscle area (MTMA) and intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) for 105 MHD patients (January 2008 to June 2012). At baseline and at six and 12 months they obtained six-minute walk distances, as well as physical and mental component scores (PCS and MCS) from short-form 12 questionnaires.
The researchers found that each standard deviation (SD) increase in baseline BMI was inversely associated with baseline and follow-up six-minute walk distances, after adjustment for baseline covariates and baseline MTMA. Similar results were seen for WC and IAFA. Each SD increase in MTMA had a strong positive association with six-minute walk distance. There was no association observed for adiposity measures with baseline and follow-up PCS and MCS. Each SD increase in baseline MTMA correlated with higher baseline PCS and MCS, but weaker correlations were seen for follow-up PCS and MCS, after adjustment for baseline BMI.
"Interventions that improve muscle mass and decrease obesity might improve these parameters in MHD patients," the authors write.
Abstract
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