Phase angle assessment: Frailty/sarcopenia and walking in hospitalised patients receiving haemodialysis

Background As concerns about ageing among patients receiving dialysis increase, exercise becomes an essential early intervention to prevent frailty and sarcopenia. A swift and easy physical assessment function is required, with phase angle (PhA), the angle at which microscopic electricity passes through the cell membrane, emerging as a potential alternative. Objectives This study aimed to determine the relationship between PhA measurements and the identification of sarcopenia, frailty, ambulatory capacity, and primary dialysis disease in hospitalised patients undergoing dialysis. Additionally, whether PhA could help assess these factors was investigated. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted including 49 Japanese inpatients (25 male and 24 females) aged 76.3 ± 9.2 years (range: 53–96 years) undergoing dialysis. Body composition data, including PhAs, were measured. Frailty was assessed using the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria, while sarcopenia was diagnosed per the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group’s guidelines. Patients were categorised and compared according to the presence or absence of frailty and sarcopenia, ambulatory status, and underlying dialysis condition (diabetic nephropathy). Results Frailty and sarcopenia prevalences were 61.2% and 83.7%, respectively. Non-ambulatory patients exhibited significantly higher age and lower PhA than their ambulatory counterparts. PhA and grip strength were significant factors influencing ambulation. Conclusions While PhA decreased, its association with frailty or sarcopenia was not statistically significant. However, PhA was significantly lower among non-ambulatory patients. These results indicate that although PhA assessment is promising, caution is warranted when considering it as a substitute for other assessments in patients receiving haemodialysis with compromised physical function.