Reference Values for Lower-Limb Dynamometry in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (REHAD-CKD) (REHAD- CKD)

REHAB-CKD group

The target population of the present study consists of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis in DIAVERUM centers in Spain.

Reference values for Lower Limb Strengh

Lower limb strengh will be evaluated using handheld dynamometer (Lafayette Manual Muscle Testing System Model-01165, Lafayette IN, USA) for hip flexors and hip abductors.Testing will follow a strict structured order: first hip flexors and then hip abductors. Within each muscle group, legs will be alternated, starting with the dominant leg and then the nondominant leg, to allow specific rest periods between muscle groups (15 seconds). Hip flexors will be assessed with the patients with both hips and knees bent. The dynamometer will be placed on the anterior part of the thigh, 2 centimetres below of patella. Hip abductors will be assessed with both legs extended at the hip and knee. The dynamometer will be placed on the lateral part of the thigh, 2 centimetres below of the knee joint line. During both measurements physiotherapist will apply force in the opposite direction of the movement. Unit of measure: Newton (N).

Muscle strength assessment Handgrip

It will use a Jamar® Approved Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. The participant will be seated in a chair with their back straight and the arm flexed at 90°. The test will be repeated three times for each hand (3-5 seconds), with rest periods between repetitions to avoid muscle fatigue. Unit of measure: Kilogram (Kg).

The cut-off points for loss of muscle strength will be set greater than or equal to 27 kg for men and greater than or equal to 16 kg for women, based on values defined by Mathiowetz et al. and included in the European clinical nutrition guidelines as a phenotypic criterion for disease-related malnutrition.

Human Activity Profile

The Human Activity Profile (HAP) consist of 94 questions addressing different domains of daily activity and participation, with three possible answers for each item: 'still doing,' 'stopped doing,' or 'never did.' For each item, the participant will have to choose one of these responses. Based on each answer, two scores will be calculated: the Maximal Activity Score (MAS), which corresponds to the activity with the highest effort demand that the volunteer 'still performs'; and the Adjusted Activity Score (AAS), which will be calculated by subtracting the number of items the subject 'has stopped doing' below the MAS value from the MAS itself. The AAS will provide the value of activity that the subject has ceased to perform compared to what they were doing before. Unit of Measure: Absolute number.

Screening Sarcopenia risk

Screening for Sarcopenia risk will be performed using the "Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls" (SARC-F) questionnaire, which consists of five self-reported questions based on the subjects' perception of their limitations regarding strength, walking ability, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and their history and number of falls. Each item will be scored from 0 to 2, where 0 = no difficulty, 1 = some difficulty, and 2 = great difficulty, or if the subject uses devices or cannot perform the task without personal assistance. The total SARC-F score can range from 0 to 10, and subjects with a score ≥ 4 points will be considered at risk of sarcopenia, in accordance with the recommendations of the European consensus on sarcopenia. Unit of Measure: Absolute number.

Frailty assessment using the "Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses,Loss of Weight" (FRAIL) questionnaire

Frailty will be assessed using the five questions (fatigue, climbing stairs, walking 100 m, comorbidity, and weight loss) that comprise the "Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses,Loss of Weight" (FRAIL) questionnaire. A score of 1 or higher suggests frailty. Unit of Measure: Absolute Number

Frailty assessment using the Fried Frailty Phenotype

Frailty will be assessed using the five components (weight loss, handgrip weakness, fatigue, low physical activity, and gait speed) of the Fried Frailty Phenotype. A score of 1 or higher suggests frailty. Unit of Measure: Absolute number

4-metre gait speed assessment

The 4-metre gait speed test will be performed preferably before the second HD session of the week, in a corridor of the unit. Patients will be asked to walk between two marks at their usual pace, using walking aids if necessary. A practice trial will be provided, and the times of two trials will be recorded in seconds and converted to m/s. The best of the two trials will be used for analysis. Unit of Measure: Absolute number

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL)

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) will be assessed using the Spanish version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire . Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better HRQoL. Results are reported across eight subscales (physical functioning, vitality, role physical, general health, social functioning, mental health, role emotional, and bodily pain) and two summary components (physical and mental components). Unit of Measure: Absolute number

Sit-to-Stand-to-Sit tests- 10 repetitions (STS-10) and Sit-to-Stand-to-Sit tests 60 seconds (STS-60)

The Sit-to-Stand-to-Sit- 10 (STS-10) and Sit-to-Stand-to-Sit-60 (STS-60) tests will be performed preferably before the second or third HD session. Participants will be seated in a chair with their arms crossed over the chest, feet on the floor, and back supported against the backrest whenever possible. The chair must be stable and placed against a wall to minimize the risk of falls. Participants will be asked to keep their arms crossed to avoid using them for assistance and, with their feet on the ground, to stand up and sit down 10 consecutive times as quickly as possible. The time required to complete the test will be recorded in seconds.

After a rest period following the STS-10, the same procedure will be performed for the STS-60, in which the number of repetitions completed in 60 seconds will be recorded. Both the number of repetitions and the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) will be documented.

Unit of measure: absolute number

Assessment of muscle thickness

Muscle quantity and quality will be evaluated using ultrasound measurement of the cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris muscle, performed 30 minutes after the start of HD, on a different day from the muscle strength assessments. The assessment will be conducted on the dominant lower limb, with the participant in the supine position, the limb fully extended, and the muscles relaxed. It will be measured muscle thickness, (unit of measure: millimeter).

Assessment of muscle cross-sectional area

Muscle quantity and quality will be evaluated using ultrasound measurement of the cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris muscle, performed 30 minutes after the start of HD, on a different day from the muscle strength assessments. The assessment will be conducted on the dominant lower limb, with the participant in the supine position, the limb fully extended, and the muscles relaxed. It will be measured muscle cross-sectional area ( unit of measure: millimeter squared).

Assessment of muscle subcutaneous fat thickness

Muscle quantity and quality will be evaluated using ultrasound measurement of the cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris muscle, performed 30 minutes after the start of HD, on a different day from the muscle strength assessments. The assessment will be conducted on the dominant lower limb, with the participant in the supine position, the limb fully extended, and the muscles relaxed. It will be measured muscle subcutaneous fat thickness, (unit of measure: millimeter).