Vnitr Lek 2024, 70(4):E16-E20

Sarcopenia in chronic dialysis patients

Zdeněk Lys^{1, 2}, Tomáš Balner^{1, 2}, Jan Václavík^{1, 2}

¹ Interní a kardiologická klinika FN Ostrava

² Lékařská fakulta, Ostravská Univerzita

Sarcopenia is a generalized, progressive disease of muscle tissue conditioned not only by age but also by other factors such as physical inactivity, nutritional impairment, or several chronic diseases. The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease is high, and this number is further increased in patients on dialysis. The prognosis for this group of patients is severe and sarcopenia itself is associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, disability, and further worsening mortality. Chronic kidney disease affects 10-12% of the population and the prevalence of renal failure increases with increasing age. In the Czech Republic, there are currently more than 6000 patients in a chronic dialysis. The influence of the dialysis procedure itself, frequent metabolic acidosis or further nutritional impairment add to the many general pathophysiological mechanisms of sarcopenia. The demonstration of reduced muscle strength, mass and reduced muscle function plays a key role in the diagnosis. Limited therapeutic options remain a problem, in which intensive physical activity, especially resistance training, as well as nutritional interventions play a key role.

Keywords: sarcopenia, dialysis, chronic kidney disease, geriatric patient, malnutrition.

Accepted: June 12, 2024; Published: June 20, 2024  Show citation