Objective: Sarcopenia is a common condition in patients undergoing dialysis, yet appropriate diagnostic thresholds tailored to this population remain unclear. In this context, we investigated which measures related to muscular performance and functional status were most predictive of mortality in this population.
Materials and Methods: Hand-grip strength (HGS), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), and gait speed (GS) were assessed in relation to 3-year survival. Cox regression analysis was applied, adjusting for age, nutritional status, and serum albumin. Newly determined thresholds were compared with the criteria defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2).
Results: This study involved 82 dialysis patients (median age: 66 years; 54.9% female). Mortality-related cut-offs were established as follows: HGS (18.0 kg for male, 11.5 kg for female), SMMI (9.0 kg/m² for male, 6.7 kg/m² for female), and GS (0.53 m/s for male, 0.43 m/s for female). Lower HGS and GS were independently associated with 3-year mortality. The new definitions yielded better prognostic performance than EWGSOP2.
Conclusion: The new cut-off values for HGS and GS are superior predictors of mortality in dialysis patients compared to EWGSOP2 standards.