Ratio of C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Predicts Muscle Mass in Adult Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

PLoS One. 2016 Oct 21;11(10):e0165403. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165403. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that the ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin (CRP-Alb ratio) is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with disease. We examined the predictive value of this ratio in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). In this cross-sectional study, 91 eligible adult HD patients were analyzed, and the correlation between the CRP-Alb ratio and skeletal muscle mass normalized for body weight (SMM/wt; estimated using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer) was investigated. The mean age of the study participants was 54.9 ± 6.6 years (ranging from 27 to 64 years); 43 (47.2%) were men. The mean values for the SMM/wt were 39.1% ± 5.4%. The CRP-Alb ratio was found to be negatively correlated with SMM/wt (r = -0.33, P = 0.002) and creatinine (r = -0.20, P = 0.056). All the univariate significant and nonsignificant relevant covariates were selected for multivariable stepwise regression analysis. We determined that the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance and CRP-Alb ratio were independent risk determinants for SMM/wt (βHOMA-IR = -0.18 and βCRP-Alb ratio = -3.84, adjusted R2 = 0.32). This study indicated that the CRP-Alb ratio may help clinicians in predicting muscle mass in adult patients undergoing HD.

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / metabolism*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscles / pathology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Organ Size*
  • Renal Dialysis*

Substances

  • Albumins
  • C-Reactive Protein

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Taiwan)-Grant Number: NSC-102-2320-B-038-026 & MOST 105-2320-B-038-033-MY3 (https://www.most.gov.tw/en/public): to TCW, YTC, PYW and YHH; Taipei Medical University Hospital-Grant Number: 98TMU-TMUH-14 (http://www.tmuh.org.tw/tmuh_en/index.php): to PYW and SHY. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.