PP144
PHASE ANGLE AND MUSCLE STRENGTH IN HEMODIALYSIS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF MUSCLE IMPAIRMENT
O. Valderrama1,*, R. Ávila2, R. Broce2, M. Batista2, M. Vergara2, A. Sáez2, V. Rodríguez2, A. Gómez2, E. Montero2, I. Barría2, M. Montenegro2
1Nutritional Support Committee, 2Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama, Panama
Rationale: Muscle impairment is highly prevalent in patients on hemodialysis and is associated with adverse outcomes.1 Handgrip strength is a simple and low-cost measure of muscle function, whereas phase angle reflects cellular integrity and has been associated with clinical outcomes. Evaluating their relationship may improve the assessment of muscle health.
Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of adult patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, between January and July 2025. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip dynamometry and phase angle was obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Both were expressed as age- and sex-adjusted z-scores (HGS_Z) (Low ≤1.65). Associations between PA_Z and muscle strength were evaluated using correlation analysis and multifactorial analysis.
Results: A total of 101 patients were analyzed, predominately men (62.4%), with a mean age of 44.8 ± 14.5 years and median time on hemodialysis of 24 months (IQR 12–72). Low muscle strength was present in 56.4% of patients, and low phase angle in 62.9%. Phase angle correlated positively with muscle strength (r=0.46, p<0.001). Patients with low PA_Z had a higher prevalence of muscle impairment (68.3% vs 37.8%; OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.51–8.27; p=0.004). This association remained significant after adjustment (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.85; p=0.004).
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Conclusion: Phase angle is independently associated with muscle strength in hemodialysis patients. HGS represents a practical and low-cost tool that reflects muscle impairment and may be especially valuable in settings where body composition analysis is not available.
References: 1.Ben Othman R, Balti A, Boukhris S, et al. Sarcopenia in Hemodialysis Patients: Prevalence, Independent Risk Factors, and Functional Implications—A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. JCM. 2025;14(19):6893
Disclosure of Interest: None declared