Objective:

To describe body composition, muscle strength and activity level in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis in a renal unit in Bogota, Colombia.

Method:

Cross-sectional study, we included patients older than 18 years-old who were in a hemodialysis program for at least six months in the Renal Unit of the Hospital of San José. The sample was randomly selected from the 25% of the total hemodialysis population. We measured body composition, strength of dominant upper limb, physical activity and quality of life with the SF-36 instrument validated in Colombia.

Results:

82 patients, median age was 61 years (interquartile range 51-69) were included; most were men (54/82). According to MET/h patients were classified as healthy (2/82), risky sedentary (38/82) and unhealthy sedentary (42/82). The percentage of muscle mass was lower in sedentary unhealthy group than in risky sedentary group, 10.3% (interquartile range 7.7-12.6) versus 12.5%(interquartile range 10.2-14.7). Regarding the quality of life we found an overall median of 64 points (interquartile range 52-72) in the mental dimension and 69 points (interquartile range 49-79) in the physical dimension.

Conclusion:

Hemodialysis patients had an appropriate weight for their height, but with less muscle mass and a decreased muscle strength for their age; the physical activity level recorded was sedentary and the quality of life showed a lower score on the physical component.