Fat-to-Lean Mass Ratio Can Predict Cardiac Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background: Although higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with better survival in patients undergoing dialysis, BMI is not an adequate obesity indicator. We hypothesized that the fat-to-lean (F/L) mass ratio could be a suitable marker of nutritional status and evaluated its prognostic impact on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: In total, 131 patients undergoing HD were recruited and monitored prospectively for up to 5 years. Body composition was analyzed, and other nutritional and inflammatory parameters were measured.

Results: The mean age of the cohort was 60.7 ± 13.6 years, and 65 patients were diabetic. Age, sex, diabetes, comorbidity, and inflammation were associated significantly with the F/L mass ratio. During the follow-up period, 21 patients experienced cardiac events and 22 patients died. Patients with higher F/L mass ratios had significantly higher risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 3.61, 95% CI 1.07-12.13; p = 0.038) and cardiac events (HR 3.54, 95% CI 1.05-11.94; p = 0.041) than those with lower F/L mass ratios.

Conclusions: The F/L mass ratio was a useful surrogate marker of nutritional and inflammatory status, and an independent predictor of cardiac events and all-cause mortality, in patients undergoing HD.