What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Outpatient hemodialysis patients in urban Japan (n=177). Primary outcome: Prevalence of sarcopenia, dynapenia, presarcopenia, and controls based on muscle mass index and muscle strength.

What does this research mean for the field?

Sarcopenia was present in 35.6% and dynapenia in 28.8% of outpatient hemodialysis patients in urban Japan, while 30.5% were classified as controls with normal muscle strength. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to classify hemodialysis patients into groups based on muscle mass and strength and assess their prevalence and clinical characteristics.

February 19, 2026Open Access

Study on the prevalence of sarcopenia and dynapenia in outpatient hemodialysis patients in urban areas of Japan: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Key Result

Among outpatient hemodialysis patients in urban Japan, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 35.6%, dynapenia 28.8%, presarcopenia 5.1%, and 30.5% were controls.

Key Points

This study aims to classify hemodialysis patients into groups based on muscle mass and strength and assess their prevalence and clinical characteristics.
Classified 177 outpatient hemodialysis patients into four groups: sarcopenia, dynapenia, presarcopenia, and controls.
Used skeletal muscle mass index and muscle strength for classification.
Conducted between-group comparisons on characteristics such as body mass index, nutritional indicators, and body fat percentage.
Prevalence rates were 35.6% for sarcopenia, 28.8% for dynapenia, and 5.1% for presarcopenia, with 30.5% classified as controls.
Dynapenic patients were significantly younger and had higher skeletal muscle mass index than sarcopenic patients.
Men with dynapenia displayed markedly lower grip strength and poor performance on the Five Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test compared to controls.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=177)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Population

177 patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis in the Tokyo urban area (Japan), mean age 66.1 years, 79.1% men. Key exclusion criteria: not receiving stable dialysis, initiated hemodialysis <3 months prior, cardiac pacemakers, physical dysfunctions.

Outcome

Prevalence of sarcopenia, dynapenia, and presarcopenia based on skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and muscle strength (grip strength, Five Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test)surrogate

In outpatient hemodialysis patients, dynapenia is highly prevalent (28.8%) and distinct from sarcopenia, highlighting the need for early detection using sex-specific functional assessments.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 35.6% vs 30.5%

Limitations

Participants were not randomly selected, leading to potential selection bias and unbalanced age and sex ratios.
Small number of female participants limited statistical power for women-specific analyses.
Short study period precluded collection of data on cognitive function, socioeconomic, educational, and residential status.
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference.

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to classify patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis into four groups (sarcopenia, dynapenia, presarcopenia, and controls) to clarify their distribution and compare clinical characteristics. Participants and Methods A total of 177 patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis in the Tokyo urban area were classified into four groups according to skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and muscle strength. Between-group comparisons were conducted for basic characteristics, body mass index, nutritional indicators, and body fat percentage. Results Among the 177 participants, the prevalence of sarcopenia, dynapenia, and presarcopenia was 35.6%, 28.8%, and 5.1%, respectively, and 30.5% were controls. Among participants, those with dynapenia were significantly younger and had higher SMI and than those with sarcopenia. Men participants with dynapenia also had higher extracellular-water to total-body-water ratio and markedly lower grip strength and Five Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test performance compared with controls. Among participants, those with dynapenia had significantly higher SMI and than those with sarcopenia and showed lower grip strength than controls. Conclusion Early detection of dynapenia may benefit from test batteries that takes sex differences into consideration.

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