Sarcopenia, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes mellitus under hemodialysis

Introduction: Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of strength and muscle mass. Patients with diabetes mellitus who are under hemodialysis treatment show decreased physical activity and changes in their food intake, which also leads to the presence of sarcopenia. On the other hand, peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease commonly appear as chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out in diabetes mellitus patients on hemodialysis. For the assessment of sarcopenia, muscle strength, physical performance and muscle mass percentage were measured. Muscle strength was calculated with a dynamometer, while physical performance was evaluated in seconds by means of a walk test with a stopwatch; muscle mass percentage was obtained using a scale with bioelectrical impedance. Sarcopenia was considered severe when there was low muscle strength and percentage in addition to low physical performance. Peripheral neuropathy was assessed by exploring touch and pressure sensibility with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test and deep sensibility with a 128 Hz tuning fork. The ankle-brachial index was the measurement taken for the peripheral arterial disease classification. Results: The final analysis was performed with 33 patients, whose time on hemodialysis was 3.57 +/- 2.56 years. The prevalence of severe sarcopenia and sarcopenia was 90.8% and that of pre-sarcopenia was 9% of all patients. On the other hand, 78.1% were found to be patients with loss of deep sensibility, while the percentage of patients with loss of sensibility to pressure and touch was 54.5%. A correlation was found between the sarcopenia parameters and the time of evolution of renal failure and age. Conclusion: Sarcopenia occurs, in its different stages, in practically all diabetes mellitus patients undergoing hemodialysis; there is a relationship with the patient's age and hemodialysis time.