Relationship between Fat Mass and Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background/Aims: Little is known about the relationship between fat mass distribution and chronic inflammation in dialysis patients, in whom chronic inflammation is related to morbidity and mortality. Methods: The fat and lean masses (truncal and nontruncal) of 452 hemodialysis patients (age: 64 ± 11 years; hemodialysis duration: 89 ± 77 months; 37% diabetics) were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry and their association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was examined. Results: The fat mass of the high hsCRP group (n = 106) was significantly higher than that of the normal hsCRP group (n = 346; p < 0.05); there were no significant differences in lean mass between the two groups. Truncal fat mass of the former group was significantly greater than that of the latter (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in nontruncal fat mass between the two groups. In multiple regression analysis, truncal fat mass (β = 0.227, p < 0.01) was significantly and independently associated with serum hsCRP levels after adjustment for age, gender and serum albumin (R² = 0.137, p < 0.01), whereas nontruncal fat mass was not. Conclusion: Fat mass, particularly truncal fat mass, but not lean body mass, was significantly associated with serum hsCRP levels. The results suggest that truncal fat mass exhibits a distinct effect on chronic inflammation in hemodialysis patients.