Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness Research Articles

Abstract TP158: Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness Alone or in Combination with Obesity is Associated with Poor Outcome 90 Days After Stroke

Background: The nutritional status at the time of stroke, may influence the functional capacity after the event. There are controversial data indicating that obesity may be related to better prognosis. It is possible that some obese individuals present reduced fat-free mass. Objective: To identify if bedside evaluation of body composition by the body mass index (BMI), muscle mass measured by adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), arm muscle area (AMA) and the combination of low APMT or AMA with obesity are associated with poor functional status and mortality, 90 days after stroke. Methodology: Were evaluated 120 patients hospitalized at Stroke Unit. Data was expressed by average ± standard deviation or median and percentiles. Obesity was evaluated by BMI and fat-free mass was estimated by the APMT, which is the only directly measured muscle, and AMA. Roc curve and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to measure whether the APMT and obesity were associated with RANKIN ≥3 (greater dependence and death), after 90 days of the event. The data were adjusted by the NIHSS, sex, age, type of stroke and thrombolysis. Significance level was 5%. Results: Of 120 patients, 54 (45.0%) were women and 66 (55.0%) men; age 66.6 ± 13.2 years; 109 patients (90.8%) had ischemic stroke and 11 (9.16%) hemorrhagic; NIHSS 4 (2-10). Among patients with ischemic stroke, 18 (16.5%) were thrombolized. Considering RANKIN ≥3, Roc curve analysis showed that the value of the cutoff for APMT was <12.5 mm, with sensitivity 0.84, specificity 0.58, area under the curve 0.75 ( 0,6629 - 0,8440) (p = 0.<0,001). In multivariate analysis adjusted by the above factors, the increase in each 1 mm of APTM reduce 31% the chance of disability (OR 0.764, 95% CI: 0.613 to 0.951) (p = 0.016). In addition, the intersection of obesity with APMT<12,5 mm, increased in 37 folds the risk of disability. AMA was not associated with RANKIN≥3. Conclusion: Lower APMT alone or in combination with obesity was associated with poor functional status. The body composition assessment was performed at bedside, in the setting of Stroke Unit, with simple methods that may be feasible and useful to predict Stroke prognosis.

FOOD CONSUMPTION OF CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS, COMPARISON WITH THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND DISEASE STAGING.

Patients with liver disease often present protein-energy malnutrition. The assessment of food intake is very important in the investigation regarding the "health-disease" process. To assess dietary intake of cirrhotic patients through food record during 3 days, correlating it with the nutritional status of the patient and the stage of the disease. Cirrhotic outpatients from the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital, RS, Brazil, were assessed. Nutritional assessment was performed by anthropometry; non-dominating handgrip strength; adductor pollicis muscle thickness; phase angle by bioelectrical impedance analysis; and Subjective Global Assessment. For analysis of food consumption we used the food records of 3 days using scales for weighing of all foods. We evaluated 25 (68%) patients, in which there was a prevalence of cirrhosis by hepatitis C virus. The upper arm circumference, handgrip strength and phase angle by bioelectrical impedance analysis diagnosed 56% of malnourished. Phase angle by bioelectrical impedance analysis and upper arm circumference were associated with Child-Pugh score (P<0.05). The average consumption of calories, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids were within the recommended. However, sodium was above the recommendations, 106±57.2 mEq, and was inversely associated with Child-Pugh score (rs=-0.410; P=0.042). Food intake did not have a significant difference between the Child-Pugh scores and nutritional status. In addition, food intake did not vary neither according to the stage of the disease, nor to the nutritional assessment, by the phase angle by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Association between adductor pollicis muscle thickness, anthropometric and immunological parameters in HIV-positive patients

Involuntary weight loss and muscle mass loss among HIV-positive patients are only detectable in late stages, leading poor life quality. The reduction of adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) can be easily and earlier uncovered in those cases. The purpose was to estimate APMT and compare it with immunological and anthropometric parameters of HIV-infected people. A crosssectional study was carried out in an University Hospital including 103 HIV-infected outpatients by subjective global assessment (SGA). Data were compared to APMT for the whole sample and between gender in univariate analysis. Besides that, simple correlation and multiple linear regression were done to check the APMT relation with gender, age, weight body, body mass index, arm circumference, CD4, CD8 and viral load. The APMT average values of the dominant hand (16.2±4.2mm) and non-dominant hand (14.8±4.3mm) were lower than in the healthy population. Through stratified analysis by gender, it was found significant difference in weight, arm muscle circumference, arm muscle area, triceps skinfold thickness and arm fat area (p<0,01 for each). In any age group, men had significantly higher dominant and non-dominant APMT values than women (p<0.001). Although the fair correlation among cited variables and APMT of both hands, there were no correlation and no difference between the genders in regards to immunological markers (CD4, CD8 and viral load). In a prediction model to APMT values, gender was determinant in multiple linear regression. In a well-nourished HIV sample by SGA with adequate CD4 counts, APMT measures of both hands were lower than in healthy people. In both hands, APMT were positively correlated with weight and male, regardless of other anthropometric data and immunologic factors.

Lower values of handgrip strength and adductor pollicis muscle thickness are associated with hepatic encephalopathy manifestations in cirrhotic patients

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a late complication of liver cirrhosis and is clearly associated with poor outcomes. Chronic liver insufficiency leads to progressive muscle wasting, impairing ammonia metabolism and thus increasing the risk for HE. Given the association between lean mass and adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), it has been used to predict outcome and complications in many conditions, but not yet in cirrhotic patients. Therefore, this article aimed to study the association between HE manifestations and measures related to muscle mass and strength. This cross-sectional study included 54 cirrhotic outpatients with HE varying from subclinical to grade II according to the West-Haven criteria, who were submitted to neuropsychometric tests, electroencephalogram, brain Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength (HGS) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry exam (DXA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between body composition measures and HE grade. Analysis of the area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curve revealed the values related to neurological manifestations (HE grades I and II). Reductions in APMT and HGS were associated with higher HE grades, suggesting a big impact caused by the loss of muscle mass and function on HE severity. The link between HE manifestations and anthropometric measures, namely APMT and HGS, point to a significant relation concerning skeletal muscles and the neurological impairment in this population.

Association of the Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness With Clinical Outcomes in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Different parameters may be used to evaluate the nutrition status of individuals. However, their use in the critically ill is problematic, since the interference of acute disease or therapeutic measures on their results can affect their interpretation. The aim of this study was to assess whether measuring the adductor pollicis muscle is useful in identifying malnutrition and clinical outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). In total, 127 patients were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Serum albumin levels, anthropometrics, adductor pollicis muscle (APM) thickness, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score were measured for each patient upon admission. APM thickness (APMT) was measured while the patient's elbow was flexed at a 90-degree angle and the forearm resting on the patient's torso. The dominant and nondominant APMT were significantly correlated with all anthropometric measurements (r = 0.41-0.68, P < .001 and r = 0.42-0.66, P < .001 respectively). Multivariate regression analysis adjusted by other risk factors, including APACHE II score, serum albumin, and age, showed that among all anthropometric variables, the APMT has the highest correlation with mortality (odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.12; P < .001), length of stay >10 days (OR, 11.3; 95% CI, 4.42-29.1; P < .001), and organ failure (OR, 14.5; 95% CI, 6.5-38.4; P < .001). The results showed that APMT is a low-cost, reliable, and easy method to assess nutrition status and to predict the patient's outcomes in the ICU.

Preoperative Nutritional Status and Clinical Complications in the Postoperative Period of Cardiac Surgeries.

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the preoperative nutritional status of patients and the role it plays in the occurrence of clinical complications in the postoperative period of major elective cardiac surgeries.MethodsCross-sectional study comprising 72 patients aged 20 years or older, who underwent elective cardiac surgery. The preoperative nutritional assessment consisted of nutritional screening, anthropometry (including the measurement of the adductor pollicis muscle thickness) and biochemical tests. The patients were monitored for up to 10 days after the surgery in order to control the occurrence of postoperative complications. The R software, version 3.0.2, was used to statistically analyze the data.ResultsClinical complications were found in 62.5% (n=42) of the studied samples and complications of non-infectious nature were most often found. Serum albumin appeared to be associated with renal complications (P=0.026) in the nutritional status indicators analyzed herein. The adductor pollicis muscle thickness was associated with infectious complications and presented mean of 9.39±2.32 mm in the non-dominant hand (P=0.030). No significant correlation was found between the other indicators and the clinical complications.ConclusionThe adductor pollicis muscle thickness and the serum albumin seemed be associated with clinical complications in the postoperative period of cardiac surgeries.

Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness as an Anthropometric Parameter in Surgical Patients

Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness as an Anthropometric Parameter in Surgical Patients

Is adductor pollicis muscle thickness a good predictor of lean mass in adults?

SummaryBackground & aimsLean mass (LM) is an important parameter in clinical outcomes, which highlights the necessity of reliable tools for its estimation. The adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) is easily accessible and suffers minimal interference from the adjacent subcutaneous fat tissue.ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between the APMT and LM in a sample of Southern Brazilian adults.MethodsParticipants were adults from the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. LM was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). LM and lean mass index (LMI – LM divided by the square of height – kg/m2) were the outcomes. APMT was measured using a skinfold caliper. The mean of three measurements in the non-dominant hand was used in the analyses. APMT was described according to socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional status. The relationship between APMT and both LM and LMI was evaluated by correlation coefficient and linear regression using APMT as a single anthropometric parameter and also in addition to BMI.ResultsAPMT was assessed in 3485 participants. APMT was higher in males, non-whites, less-schooled and obese individuals. APMT was moderately correlated to LM and LMI (ranged from 0.44 to 0.57). Correlation coefficients were higher for LMI as outcome and in females (LM: 0.51 and LMI: 0.57). APMT explained 19% and 26% of the variance in LM in males and females, respectively, whereas it explained 26% and 33% of the variance in LMI. APMT increased the prediction for LM in 3 and 4 percentage points in males and females, in comparison to explained by BMI. BMI explained 48% and 59% of the variance of LMI in males and females whereas APMT increased it to 51% and 62% for both sexes, respectively.ConclusionsResults were not good enough to promote the APMT as a single predictor of LM or LMI in epidemiological studies. APMT has a little predictive capacity in estimating LM or LMI when BMI is also considered.

&lt;b&gt;Adductor pollicis muscle: potential anthropometric parameter in hospitalized individuals

This study evaluated the measurement of adductor pollicis muscle thickness as a parameter for the assessment of nutritional status in patients admitted to a University Hospital in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State. This is a prospective cross-sectional study with 64 adults and elderly patients. We evaluated the percentage of weight loss based on the usual weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference, laboratory parameters and measurement of adductor pollicis muscle thickness. The measurements were performed only once, in the first 72 hours of hospitalization. Data were analyzed using statistical software BioEstat 5.0, with a significance level of 0.05. The average thickness of the adductor pollicis muscle was 17.5 + 5.3 mm. We found a significant negative association of muscle with age. There was a significant association between the measure of muscle and parameters such as body mass index, arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, albumin and nutritional status assessed by physical examination. The adductor pollicis muscle allows easy measurement, direct assessment, fast results, low cost and good correlation with anthropometric parameters. However, further studies should be conducted to validate this new method.

Relationship between adductor pollicis muscle thickness and subjective global assessment in a cardiac intensive care unit.

Objective To verify the relationship between the adductor pollicis muscle thickness test and the subjective global assessment and to correlate it with other anthropometric methods.Methods This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the intensive care unit of a cardiology hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The hospitalized patients underwent subjective global assessment and adductor pollicis muscle thickness tests on both hands, along with measurement of the right calf circumference. Laboratory parameters, length of stay, vital signs and electronic medical record data and tests were all collected.Results The study population included 83 patients, of whom 62% were men. The average age was 68.6 ± 12.5 years. The most common reason for hospitalization was acute myocardial infarction (34.9%), and the most common pathology was systolic blood pressure (63.9%), followed by diabetes mellitus (28.9%). According to subjective global assessment classifications, 62.7% of patients presented no nutritional risk, 20.5% were moderately malnourished and 16.9% were severely malnourished. Women had a higher nutritional risk, according to both the subjective global assessment and the adductor pollicis muscle thickness test, the cutoff for which was < 6.5mm (54.8%; p = 0.001). The pathology presenting the greatest nutritional risk was congestive heart failure (p = 0.001). Evaluation of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve between adductor pollicis muscle thickness and subjective global assessment showed the accuracy of the former, with an area of 0.822.Conclusion Adductor pollicis muscle thickness proved to be a good method for evaluating nutritional risk.

Adductor pollicis muscle: A study about its use as a nutritional parameter in surgical patients

Body composition is important to identify malnutrition, and several anthropometric measurements are used to estimate muscle mass in the clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), its covariates and association with malnutrition in hospitalized surgical patients. APMT was measured in 361 surgical patients in both dominant (DAPMT) and non-dominant (NDAPMT) sides. APMT values below the 5th percentile of reference values provided by a healthy population were considered as malnourished. Nutritional status was assessed by Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). The difference in APMT values among nutritional status categories was evaluated, and the association between malnutrition by SGA and APMT was estimated using multivariate linear regression. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were also calculated. Most patients were women (60.4%). APMT values were significantly different among SGA categories. Well-nourished patients had APMT values significantly higher compared to the ones with moderate or severe malnutrition by SGA, with no significant difference between APMT values in moderate or severe malnourished patients. Statistically significant associations between both DAPMT and NDAPMT below the 5th percentile and malnutrition and were found (RR = 3.99, CI 95% = 3.19-5.00; p < 0.001; and RR = 3.92; CI 95% = 3.10-4.96; p < 0.001; respectively). Gender, age, estimated weight and nutritional status were considered associated factors for APMT. APMT showed low sensitivity (DAPMT: 34.9%, NDAPMT: 37.7%) but high specificity (DAPMT: 98.7%, NDAPMT: 97.8%) to identify malnutrition. APMT was significantly associated with nutritional status in a sample of surgical patients. The APMT seems to be a simple and useful anthropometric tool to confirm the diagnosis of malnutrition.

Nutritional and metabolic status of breast cancer women.

The nutritional and metabolic status have been related to cancer risk factors as well as to cancer treatment morbimortality. Thus, its assessment is important for developing strategies for the promotion, maintenance and / or recovery of nutritional status and cancer outcome. Several different methods for nutritional assessment in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy were used, including subjective global assessment (SGA), body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF), mid-arm circumference (MAC), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), hand grip strength (HGS) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was also evaluated. The occurrence of complications during cancer treatment versus the nutritional status was assessed. We followed 78 women with a mean age of 53.2 } 11.6 years. Most patients were considered well nourished (80.8%). Excessive body fat mass by BIA and MetS were found in 80,8 % and 41.9% of the patients respectively. There were significant differences in BMI, TSF, WC (waist circumference) and % fat mass between patients with and without MetS. Most patients experienced complications during cancer treatment, but there was no association with nutritional or metabolic status. In breast cancer women undergoing adjuvant therapy, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high and, on the contrary, undernutrition was low. There were no short-term effects of metabolic syndrome or undernutrition on clinical outcomes.

Handgrip Strength and Associated Factors in Hospitalized Patients

Handgrip strength (HGS) is a marker of nutrition status. Many factors are associated with HGS. Age, height, body mass index, number of diagnoses, and number and type of drugs have been shown to modify the association between undernutrition and HGS. Nevertheless, other patient characteristics that could modify this association and its joint modifier effect have not been studied yet. To evaluate the association of inpatients' HGS and undernutrition considering the potential modifier effect of cognitive status, functional activity, disease severity, anthropometrics, and other patient characteristics on HGS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital. Sex, age, abbreviated mental test score, functional activity score, Charlson index, number of drugs, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) score, body weight, mid-arm muscle circumference, adductor pollicis muscle thickness, body height, wrist circumference, hand length, and palm width were included in a linear regression model to identify independent factors associated with HGS (dependent variable). The study sample was composed of 688 inpatients (18-91 years old). All variables included in the model were associated with HGS (β, -0.16 to 0.38; P ≤ .049) and explained 68.5% of HGS. Age, functional activity decline, Charlson index, number of drugs, PG-SGA score, body weight, and wrist circumference had a negative association with HGS. All other studied variables were positively associated with HGS. Nutrition status evaluated by PG-SGA was still associated with HGS after considering the joint effect of other patient characteristics, which reinforces the value of HGS as an indicator of undernutrition.

Relationship between nutritional status and the Glasgow Prognostic Score in patients with colorectal cancer

ObjectiveThe association between nutritional status and inflammation was assessed in patients with colorectal cancer and to verify their association with complications during anticancer treatment. The agreement between the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and different nutritional assessment methods was also evaluated. MethodsA cross-sectional, prospective, and descriptive study was performed. The nutritional status was defined by the SGA and the severity of inflammation was defined by the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS). The complications were classified using the Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3. Anthropometric measurements such as body mass index, triceps skinfold, midarm circumference, midarm muscle area, and adductor pollicis muscle thickness were also performed, as were handgrip strength and phase angle. The chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Spearman correlation coefficient, independent t test, analysis of variance, Gabriel test, and κ index were used for the statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsSeventy patients with colorectal cancer (60.4 ± 14.3 y old) were included. The nutritional status according to the SGA was associated with the GPS (P < 0.05), but the SGA and GPS were not related to the presence of complications. When comparing the different nutritional assessment methods with the SGA, there were statistically significant differences. ConclusionMalnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with colorectal cancer. The nutritional status was associated with the GPS.

Adductor pollicis muscle thickness as a predictor of handgrip strength in hemodialysis patients

Recently, the adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) has been suggested as a new nutritional marker in several population. In view of the scarce data regarding the use of this marker in CKD patients, we aimed to evaluate APMT and its association with nutritional parameters in patients on hemodialysis. We evaluated 73 hemodialysis patients (52.3 ± 17 years, without residual renal function). The APMT was assessed in the non vascular access arm by means of skinfold caliper. Body composition (bioelectrical impedance), handgrip strength (HGS, dynamometer), nutritional status (subjective global assessment), and laboratory parameters (creatinine, total protein and albumin) were also evaluated. Subjects with APMT values above the median were in greater proportion black/ brown, younger and had higher HGS. The APMT correlated positively with HGS, albumin and body cell mass (%), and negatively with age. In the linear regression analysis adjusted for sex, age and length on hemodialysis, APMT was independently associated with HGS. APMT was able to predict HGS in hemodialysis patients, suggesting APMT as a promising nutritional marker in this population.

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status and the Glasgow Prognostic Score in Patients with Cancer of the Esophagus and Stomach

A relationship between weight loss and inflammation has been described in patients with cancer. In the present study, the relationship between subjective global assessment (SGA) and the severity of inflammation, as defined by Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), as well as the relationship of both of these measures with the presence of complications and survival time, was assessed. In addition, we compared the diagnosis given by SGA with parameters of nutritional assessment, such as body mass index, triceps skinfold, midarm circumference (MAC), midarm muscle circumference (MAMC), phase angle (PA), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), and handgrip strength (HGS). According to the SGA, the nutritional status was associated with the GPS (P < 0.05), and both the SGA and GPS were associated with the presence of complications. However, the GPS [area under the curve (AUC): 0.77, P < 0.05, confidence interval (CI) = 0.580, 0.956] seems to be more accurate in identifying complications than the SGA (AUC: 0.679, P < 0.05, CI = 0.426, 0.931). Only GPS was associated with survival time. Comparing the different nutritional assessment methods with the SGA suggested that the MAC, MAMC, APMT, PA, and HGS parameters may be helpful in differentiating between nourished and malnourished patients, if new cutoffs are adopted.

Preoperative Nutritional Assessment and Prognosis in Patients with Foregut Tumors

Malnourished patients with gastrointestinal tumours are at risk for postoperative complications and death. The aim of this study was to determine which nutritional assessment method better predicts outcome. Seventy-four patients, 45 men and 29 women; mean (SD) age of 63 (102) yr (range = 34 to 83), undergoing surgical resections for esophageal (n = 19) gastric (n = 43) and pancreatic (n = 12) tumors were preoperatively assessed by Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment, anthropometry, and by laboratory sampling. Forty-three (58%) of them were unnourished; 25 Subjective Global Assessment (SGA)-A, 34 SGA-B, and 15 SGA-C cases. Mean (SD) of dominant hand adductor pollicis muscle thickness (DAPM) was 13 (3.5) mm and mean (SD) serum albumin was 3.8 (0.5) g/dL. Mean (SD) hospital staying for patients who complicated and died was 34 (29) days and 23 (13) days for survivors (not significant); SGA-B cases were significantly associated with higher mortality (n = 12, P<0.001). Patients with a mean (SD) DAPM below 10.8 (3.7) mm died more frequently than those with a mean (SD) greater than 14 (3) mm (P < 0.001). None of the methods was significantly related to hospital stay, but receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) for PG-SGA and DAPM thickness (0.75 and 0.74) reliably predicted mortality (P<0.001) and these methods may be used as preoperative parameter.

LB012-MON ADDUCTOR POLLICIS MUSCLE THICKNESS CORRELATES WITH PROGNOSIS OF INTERNAL ELDERLY

LB012-MON ADDUCTOR POLLICIS MUSCLE THICKNESS CORRELATES WITH PROGNOSIS OF INTERNAL ELDERLY

ADDUCTOR POLLICIS MUSCLE THICKNESS AS A PREDICTOR OF MUSCLE STRENGTH IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Muscle mass remains a challenge in the nutritional assessment of hemodialysis (HD) patients. The adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMt) has emerged as a promising marker of muscle mass in the general population. Thus, we aimed to evaluate whether APMt is able to predict handgrip strength (HGS), a valid muscle mass marker in HD patients. This cross-sectional study evaluated a total of 73 patients (52.3±17 years, 56 months on HD, 48% malnourished by Subjective Global Assessment [SGA] and without residual renal function). The APMt was assessed by a skinfold caliper considering the mean of three measurements. HGS was obtained using a dynamometer. Both methods and other anthropometric parameters were performed in the arm opposite to vascular access and after HD session. Patients were stratified according to gender-specific median HGS (men 24 kg; women 18 kg). APMt values were lower in the group with lower HGS when compared with the group with higher HGS (8,91±4,08 and 11,22±4,64, P=0,02 respectively). A significant correlation was found between AMPt and HGS (r=0,40; P

Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness: A Promising Anthropometric Parameter for Patients With Chronic Renal Failure

Protein-calorie malnutrition is a prevalent disorder in chronic renal failure (CRF) and a major risk factor for increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although many methods have been used to assess malnutrition in CRF, the role of adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMt) is not established yet. This study aimed to analyze the APMt in HD patients and to investigate the correlation between APMt and conventional anthropometric, laboratory, and bioelectrical impedance markers, as well as its association with mortality/morbidity in a period of 12 months of follow-up. The study included 143 HD patients from a single facility. After dialysis, the dry weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and APMt were measured. Subsequently, the body mass index, percentage of standard body weight, the mid-arm muscle circumference, and the mid-arm muscle area were calculated. Blood counts were performed for hemoglobin, creatinine, and albumin. Patients were also submitted to a single-frequency tetrapolar bioimpedance test for measuring resistance, reactance, phase angle, and percentage of body cell mass. The correlation between APMt and anthropometric, laboratory, and bioelectrical impedance parameters was calculated using Pearson's linear correlation. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to select independent risk factors to death and hospitalizations in 6 and 12 months of follow-up, among parameters selected by univariate analysis. Patients were aged 52.2 ± 16.6 years (20 to 83 years) on average, 58% were men, and mean dialysis vintage was 5.27 ± 5.12 years. APMt was 11.85 ± 1.63 mm (men, 12.34 ± 1.53; women, 11.19 ± 1.51; P < .0001). APMt was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.37; P < .0001), mid-arm circumference (r = 0.437; P < .0001), mid-arm muscle circumference (r = 0.494; P < .0001), mid-arm muscle area (r = 0.449; P < .0001), percentage of standard body weight (r = 0.355; P = .000), creatinine (r = 0.230; P = .006), albumin (r = 0.207; P = .013), percentage of body cell mass (r = 0.293; P = .000), and phase angle (r = 0.402; P < .0001), and negatively correlated with resistance (r = -0.403; P < .0001). The APMt ≤10.6 mm was associated with a 3.3 times greater risk of hospitalization within 6 months of follow-up (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.13 to 9.66; P = .029) compared with patients with an APMt >10.6 mm. The APMt was not associated with risk of death at 6 and 12 months or hospitalization within 12 months of follow-up. This is the first study testing APMt as an anthropometric marker in HD patients. The parameter is easy to measure and does not seem to be significantly affected by variations in hydration status. The parameter was significantly correlated with markers reflecting the condition of the muscle compartment, but not with parameters estimating the fat mass. The determination of an APMt cutoff point for malnutrition in patients with CRF and its correlation with morbidity and mortality will require further investigation in clinical studies.