Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, a Simplified Nutritional Screening Index, Is a Strong Predictor of Handgrip Strength in Renal Transplant Recipients

I-H Lin; T-C Wong; S-W Nien; H-H Wang; Y-J Chiang; S-H Yang

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.03.085

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, a Simplified Nutritional Screening Index, Is a Strong Predictor of Handgrip Strength in Renal Transplant Recipients

Transplant Proc. 2018 Oct;50(8):2509-2514. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.03.085. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Authors

I-H Lin¹, T-C Wong², S-W Nien³, H-H Wang⁴, Y-J Chiang⁴, S-H Yang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Nutrition Therapy, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Medical Nutrition Therapy, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Urology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁵ School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: sherry@tmu.edu.tw.

PMID: 30316388
DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.03.085

Abstract

Background: The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a useful predictor of prognosis in older patients and those receiving hemodialysis. However, the predictive value of the GNRI in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is unclear. In this study we investigated the correlation between the GNRI and muscle function, as indicated by handgrip strength (HGS).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 42 RTRs (50% women), with a mean age of 49.0 ± 10.8 years. The GNRI was derived from patients' body weight and serum albumin level by using the following equation: GNRI = [14.89 × albumin (g/dL)] + [41.7 × (body weight/ideal body weight)]. HGS was evaluated in dominant arms; HGS measurement was repeated 3 times, and the highest value was used. Multivariable stepwise regression analyses were performed to obtain adjusted correlates, and the significance levels for entry and remaining were set at 0.1.

Results: The mean values of the GNRI and HGS were 105.0 ± 5.4 and 29.0 ± 9.4, respectively. The GNRI was positively correlated with HGS (r = 0.36, P = .02). Linear and stepwise multivariable adjustment analyses revealed that the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and GNRI were independent determinants of HGS (β_HOMA-IR = 0.53 and β_GNRI = 0.43, adjusted R² = 0.45) after adjustment for age, sex, total muscle mass, and C-reactive protein level as covariates.

Conclusion: This study has shown that the GNRI is a favorable predictor of muscle function in RTRs.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Geriatric Assessment / methods*
Hand Strength*
Humans
Kidney Transplantation*
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Assessment*
Nutritional Status
Predictive Value of Tests