Risk of sarcopenia, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression and physical activity levels: Associations across patients on hemodialysis within Greece

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between SARC-F, fear of COVID 19, anxiety, depression and physical activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This study was conducted in 3 hemodialysis centers in Greece during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the Greek version of SARC-F (≥4). Demographic and medical history were collected from the patient’s medical charts. The participants were also asked to fill the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaire. Results: A hundred and thirty-two (132) patients on hemodialysis (92 men, 70.75±13.14 years) were enrolled. Sarcopenia risk (utilizing the SARC-F) was found in 41.7% of patients on hemodialysis. The average duration of hemodialysis was 3.94±4.58 years. The mean score values for SARC-F, FCV-19S and HADS were 3.9±2.57, 21.08±5.32, and 15.02±6.69, respectively. The majority of patients were physically inactive. The SARC-F scores were strongly associated with age (r=56; p<0.001), HADS (r=0.55; p<0.001), levels of physical activity (r=0.5; p<0.001), but not with FCV-19S (r=0.27; p<0.001). Conclusion: A statistically significant relationship was recorded between sarcopenia risk and age, anxiety/depression and levels of physical inactivity in patients on hemodialysis. Future studies are necessary in order to evaluate the association of specific characteristics of patients.

Impact of Effectiveness of Physical Activity in a Virtual Environment on the Regulation of Sclerostin and Interleukin 6 Levels in Haemodialysis Patients

“…It is important to emphasize that, according to the literature review, there are no reports focusing directly on the analysis of physical activity using IPAQ in the context of VR utilization among haemodialysis patients. Studies conducted in haemodialysis patient groups used IPAQ only to determine the relationship between the level of physical activity and the occurrence of sarcopenia [28], cognitive abilities [29], depression [30], cardiovascular disorders [31], and to compare the short version of the IPAQ with accelerometer-based physical activity measurement in haemodialysis patients [32], as well as to assess the plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D compared to the level of physical activity [33].…”

Associations between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Greece

“…This finding is in accordance with another study using IPAQ on Greek older adults on hemodialysis, in the third year of the pandemic, which found that the majority of older persons presented inactivity (69.7%). Persons exhibiting moderate and high activity represented 28.8% and 1.5% of the sample, respectively [ 52 ]. Another study conducted in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic, also using IPAQ, highlighted the insufficient level of older adults’ physical activity (low 44%, moderate 42.6 and high activity 13.4% [ 53 ].…”