Background: Kidney transplantation is the most effective method of renal replacement therapy, providing better quality of life and improving survival prognosis. However, immunosuppressive therapy may negatively affect balance in recipients' body mass components, such as fat mass and lean tissue mass and consequently may result in weight gain. The purpose of the study was to investigate body composition and prevalence of obesity in a group of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) during 2 years of observation.
Methods: The study population consisted of 95 patients after kidney transplantation. Anthropometry were performed using an electronic scale, dynamometer, and multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis at baseline and over a 24-month observation period. Obesity diagnosis was based on body mass index (BMI). Sarcopenia was defined according to The European Working Group on Sarcopenia.
Results: At baseline, overweight and obesity were found in 42.1% and 10.5% of KTRs, respectively. BMI correlated positively with body fat, lean body mass, and waist circumference (P < .05). Of all KTRs, 31.6% at baseline and 33.6% after 2 years met criteria of sarcopenia. During 24 months' observation, the kidney graft function and mean BMI were stable, but significant increase of body fat content with decrease of lean body mass was observed. Multivariate regression analysis showed a relationship between the risk of sarcopenia and low BMI and high waist circumference.
Conclusions: Successful transplantation was associated with weight gain with increase of body fat without increase in lean body mass (sarcopenic obesity). Results suggest the need for routine assessment of body composition and nutritional education that could prevent the consequences of adipose tissue accumulation in kidney transplant recipients.
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