Factors Associated With the Development of Sarcopenia in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is characterized by an involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. Previous studies suggest that it is generally associated with aging and chronic kidney diseases. The focus of this study was on the association between sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia in kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS: Fifty-one patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Kansai Medical University Hospital were enrolled, and their sarcopenia status was evaluated between April and July 2016. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria for the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia. Skeletal muscle mass index was measured by using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry; the cutoff points were <7.0 kg/m(2) for male subjects and <5.4 kg/m(2) for female subjects. For hand grip strength, values <26 kg (male subjects) and <17 kg (female subjects) was judged as sarcopenia. In both sexes, the cutoff point for walking speed was <0.8 m/s.

RESULTS: Fifty-one recipients (36 men and 15 women) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the recipients was 46.2 ± 12.8 years, and the mean duration of dialysis was 2.72 ± 3.61 years. Overall, 6 recipients (11.8%) had sarcopenia, and 25 recipients (49.0%) had pre-sarcopenia; 20 (39.2%) did not have sarcopenia. There were significant differences in age, duration of dialysis, body mass index, and triglyceride levels between the subgroups of recipients with and without sarcopenia. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age and duration of dialysis were independent variables for sarcopenic status.

CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicate that age and duration of dialysis before transplantation were independent determinants of sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia in these kidney transplant recipients.