PREDICTORS OF HANDGRIP STRENGTH IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AT A SINGLE CENTER IN ARGENTINA

Introduction: There is a great incidence of fractures in patients suffering from end-stage chronic disease. This is partly caused by chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder and partly by the high prevalence of muscle weakness in these patients. Objective: Our objective was to identify the determining factors of muscle strength measured by means of handgrip strength (HGS) in chronic hemodialysis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients in a hemodialysis center. Handgrip strength (HGS) and lean mass index (LMI) were measured, as well as albumin and magnesium values and other serological parameters. Multiple linear regression was used to assess HGS predictors. Results: We analyzed 139 patients (88 men and 51 women; age: 60.7 +/- 16); 18 subjects were excluded. Mean albumin values: 3.8 +/- 0.47 mg/dL; median hemodialysis time: 37 months (15-83). From the total number of patients, 25% (n=35) were found to be sarcopenic and 21.5% (n=30) had a history of diabetes. The univariate analysis showed a positive correlation between magnesium and HGS (beta 0.19 p 0.02). According to the multivariate analysis, all the following showed a correlation with HGS and were statistically significant: (R-2 0.61 p <0.001): albumin (beta:. 4.36 p 0.02); LMI (beta: 1.44 p <0.001); age (beta -0.10 p 0.04); sex (beta 6.21 p 0.007); diabetes (beta -5,08 p 0.005). Conclusion: Age, diabetes, albumin values, sex and LMI are independently associated with HGS in hemodialysis patients. Serum magnesium levels showed an association in the univariate analysis.