Abstract

Author(s): Ribeiro Pimentel, Lincon1; Sampaio, Ethiane de Jesus1; Gusmão Sena, Maria Helena Lima1; Fortes Ferreira, Andrea Jacqueline1; Reis Amaral, Magali Teresópolis2; Sahade Sousa, Viviane1; Barbosa Ramos, Lilian1; Barreto Medeiros, Jairza Maria1

Introducion: In clinical practice there are many methods used to assess patients on hemodialysis, most with limitations. The phase angle, a variable of the electric bioimpedance, has been excelling as an important prognostic indicator, but its relation to nutritional markers is controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the existence of correlations and concordances between the standard phase angle and traditional markers of nutritional status in patients with chronic renal failure, prior to and following dialysis treatment.

Methods: A transversal study with fifty-seven hemodialysis patients, of both sexes, in a dialysis treatment unit, in Salvador, Bahia (Brazil). The participants were evaluated for anthropometry, bioimpedance, and dynamometry, before and after hemodialysis. We performed a descriptive analysis, Student’s t test, Pearson correlation and agreement from the kappa coefficient.

Results: There was no significant difference between the pre- and post-dialysis period for the following variables: muscular circumference of the arm, handgrip force, and percentage of cellular body mass. In the pre-dialysis period, the correlation was positive and weak between the standard phase angle and the body mass index, the muscular circumference of the arm, handgrip force, and cellular body mass. In the post-dialysis period the percentage of cellular body mass was the only variable that had no statistically significant correlation. The analysis of concordance between the standard phase angle and other parameters, in the pre-dialysis period, showed poor or weak concordances. In the post-dialysis period there were discordances for the percentage of cellular body mass and moderate concordance for handgrip force.

Conclusion: The standard phase angle presented weak correlations with the anthropométric indicators and moderate concordance for handgrip force.