Association of quality of life assessed by the SF- 36 with low muscle strength and low lean mass combination in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Objective The dialysis process increases the risk of sarcopenia, which is characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength. With this, there may be a decrease in functional capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the association between quality of life and sarcopenia in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Methods Cross-sectional study, which included adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis for at least 1 month. Participants were characterized according to demographic, clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric data. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Handgrip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, sit-to-stand test, and gait speed were evaluated. Lean mass (LM) was estimated by a validated formula. The classification of the low muscle strength and low LM combination was based on the combination of reduced handgrip strength and LM index. Multiple linear regression models with SF-36 domains as the dependent variable and sarcopenia as the independent variable were used to verify whether low muscle strength and low LM in combination is associated with the SF-36 domains. Results 134 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 58.1 ± 14.7 years, 60.4% male. Forty-one individuals (30.6%) were classified with both low muscle strength and low LM. Both lean mass and lean mass index were significantly different between genders ( p < 0.001). Mean age was significantly higher, and handgrip strength, lean mass, and lean mass index were significantly lower in patients with the low muscle strength and low LM combination, as expected. Regarding the quality of life, the physical functioning domain was significantly lower among patients classified with both low muscle strength and low LM. This domain was associated with the low muscle strength and low LM combination in the multiple analysis. Conclusion Only the physical functioning domain was associated with the low muscle strength and low LM combination in this sample of patients on hemodialysis. The other quality of life domains evaluated by the SF-36 were not associated with the low muscle strength and low LM combination.