Introduction:
Muscle wasting was previously reported to be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Nonetheless, it is unknown whether early changes in muscle mass when patients are newly put on PD affect the subsequent clinical outcome. This study aims to understand factors affecting lean tissue mass changes over six months in PD patients and their prognostic significance.
Methods:
We studied 90 new PD patients. The change in lean tissue mass (LTM) and adipose tissue mass (ATM) over 6 months, as measured by bioimpedance spectrometry, were recorded. Outcome measures included patient, technical, and peritonitis-free survival rates.
Results:
After PD for 6 months, body weight and body mass index remained static. However, there was a significant decrease in LTM (38.6 ± 9.9 to 37.7 ± 9.3 kg, paired Student’s t-test, p = 0.041) and lean tissue percentage (LTMp) (63.4 ± 13.6% to 61.5 ± 13.4%, p = 0.006), with a concomitant increase in ATM. Multiple linear regression models showed that the change in LTM and ATM are closely correlated; every 1 kg increase of ATM is associated with 1.01 kg decrease in LTM (95% confidence interval 0.797 to 0.855, p <0.0001). The change in LTM during the first 6 months of PD, however, was not associated with patient, technical, or peritonitis-free survival subsequently.
Conclusions:
During the first months of PD, reduction in LTM and concomitant increase in ATM are common. Our data suggest that muscle mass is being replaced by adipose tissue. However, the change in LTM during this period was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes subsequently.
I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.
I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.