PMC  PDF ISSUE 8(1)
Original Article
J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls 2023 Mar; 8(1):32-37 Copied!
10.22540/JFSF-08-032 Copied!

Risk of sarcopenia, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression and physical activity levels: Associations across patients on hemodialysis within Greece
  1. Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Rio, Greece
  2. Filoxenia hemodialysis centre, Aigio, Greece
  3. Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rio, Patra, 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.
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