New Model Transforms Body Fat Management in CKD Patients

TOPLINE:

A new model using anthropometric variables such as waist circumference, height, and sex can accurately predict body fat percentage in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a strong intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.71, providing a practical alternative to bioimpedance analysis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Elevated body fat levels have been linked to impaired glomerular filtration rate and the progression of CKD in patients with renal disorders.
• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study from February to May 2023 to assess the nutritional status of patients during a predialysis consultation at the University Hospital Reina Sofía in Córdoba, Spain, and to develop a quick and easy model for estimating body fat percentage in this specific population that doesn’t require bioimpedance analysis.
• They included 106 patients with stage III or IV CKD (30.5% women; mean body mass index [BMI], 30.31) who consented to participate in this study; those unable to stand upright for bioimpedance measurement were excluded.
• Demographic and anthropometric variables were studied, with body composition assessed using a bioimpedance analyzer.

TAKEAWAY:

• Women showed a significantly higher body fat percentage than men (37.82% vs 27.86%; P less than .001), with notable differences in waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio between sexes.
• Waist circumference and height were identified as the anthropometric variables with body fat percentage as the most significant statistical associations, whereas sex demonstrated a strong negative association (all P less than .001).
• The model developed included waist circumference, height, and sex as significant predictors of body fat percentage and showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.59-0.79).

IN PRACTICE:

“The findings suggest that traditional measures such as BMI might not be sufficient to assess the risk in this population. Instead, a more comprehensive approach that includes the measurement of total body fat percentage and the distribution of this fat is crucial,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by María del Rocío Jiménez-Mérida, PhD, Department of Nursing Pharmacology and Physiotherapy, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain. It was published online in Nutrition.

LIMITATIONS:

The study population may not have fully represented all demographic groups, particularly individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or varying ethnicities. The researchers noted that while advanced measurement techniques were used, the accessibility of such tools in routine clinical practice might be limited, potentially restricting the generalizability of the results. Additionally, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the model’s validity and assess how body composition changes over time in diverse CKD populations.

DISCLOSURES:

No external funding was received for this study. The authors reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.