Correlations among lean tissue index, physical activity, clinical parameters, diet quality, and nutritional status in patients receiving haemodialyses

Introduction

Poor diet quality and malnutrition accelerate protein and energy depletion. This can result in a diminished lean tissue index (LTI) and an inability to perform daily activities, both of which increase the risk of falls and affect the quality of life.

Objective

This study investigated the correlations among LTI, physical activity (PA), clinical parameters, diet quality, and nutritional status.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed. Participants in stable conditions receiving haemodialyses were enroled. LTI was measured using a body composition monitor. Three-day dietary records and demographic and clinical parameters were collected.

Results

In total, 104 patients receiving haemodialyses were recruited (53.8% men, aged 57.7 ± 11.78 years; dialysis duration, 7.3 ± 6.04 years). LTI was not associated with diet quality; LTI was positively correlated with sex and negatively correlated with age, dialysis duration, and fat tissue index (FTI); and lean tissue index was positively correlated with PA. Among patients with a normal LTI, the odds ratio for low-FTI was 31.04 times higher than that for high-FTI. In total, 80.8% of the participants had poor diet quality, which was mainly attributed to their excessive intake of saturated fatty acids and insufficient fruit intake.

Conclusions

Although diet quality was unrelated to the LTI, the results indicated that most patients receiving haemodialyses had poor diet quality. Therefore, this topic merits further investigation.