Effect of nutritional intervention combined with resistance exercise on clinical indicators of patients with sarcopenia in maintenance hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the effects of exercise therapy combined with nutritional intervention on muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical function in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with sarcopenia (SP) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched multiple databases for RCTs published up to November 2024. Inclusion criteria: patients aged ≥18 with end-stage renal disease receiving MHD and diagnosed with SP; experimental group receiving combined exercise and nutrition intervention, and control group receiving either intervention alone; outcome measures including muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical function. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.1.

RESULTS

Nine high-quality RCTs involving 513 MHD-SP patients (256 experimental, 257 control) were included. The combined intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in handgrip strength (WMD = 3.78, 95% CI: 2.02-5.53), leg power score (WMD = 5.52, 95% CI: 1.47-9.58), skeletal muscle index (WMD = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.62-1.03), lean body mass (WMD = 2.53, 95% CI: 0.45-4.61), walking speed (WMD = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01-0.22), 6-minute walk test (WMD = 41.37, 95% CI: 20.16-62.58), and 30-second sit-to-stand test (WMD = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.67-5.07). Heterogeneity analysis showed I2 ≤ 50% for all outcomes, indicating robust results. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses confirmed the reliability of the findings.

CONCLUSION

Combined exercise therapy and nutritional intervention significantly improve muscle strength, mass, and physical function in MHD patients with sarcopenia, offering important clinical benefits.