The inter‐ and intrarater reliability and feasibility of dietetic assessment of sarcopenia and frailty in potential liver transplant recipients: A mixed‐methods study

Abstract

Sarcopenia and frailty are associated with poorer outcomes in potential liver transplant (LT) recipients. We examined the reliability and feasibility of dietitians assessing sarcopenia and frailty. Seventy‐five adults referred for LT underwent assessments of muscle mass (abdominal CTs), physical function (handgrip strength; HGS, short physical performance battery; SPPB), and frailty (Liver Frailty Index; LFI). Inter‐ and intrarater reliability and agreement were assessed in subsets of patients using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland‐Altman plots. CTs were analyzed by a dietitian and two independent experts, two dietitians assessed function and frailty. Feasibility assessed system, patient, and profession factors (staff survey). Inter‐ and intrarater reliability for CT‐defined low muscle were excellent (ICCs > 0.97). Reliability between dietitians was excellent for HGS (0.968, 95% CI, 0.928–0.986), SPPB (0.932, 95% CI, 0.798–0.973), and LFI (0.938, 95% CI 0.861–0.973). Bland‐Altman analysis indicated excellent agreement for HGS. All transplant clinicians valued sarcopenia and frailty in LT assessments and considered the dietitian appropriate to perform them. Seven saw no barriers to implementation into practice, while five queried test standardization, learning from repeat testing, and resource cost. Dietetic assessments of sarcopenia and frailty are reliable, feasible, and valued measures in the assessment of potential LT recipients.