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Falls are a social problem that increase healthcare costs. Hemodialysis (HD) patients need to avoid falling because fractures increase their risk of death. Nutritional problems such as frailty, sarcopenia, undernutrition, protein-energy wasting (PEW), and cachexia may increase the risk of falls and fractures in patients with HD. This review aimed to summarize the impact of frailty, sarcopenia, undernutrition, PEW, and cachexia on falls in HD patients. The reported global incidence of falls in HD patients is 0.85–1.60 falls per patient per year. HD patients fall frequently, but few reports have investigated the relationship between nutrition-related problems and falls. Several studies reported that frailty and undernutrition increase the risk of falls in HD patients. Nutritional therapy may help to prevent falls in HD patients. HD patients’ falls are caused by nutritional problems such as iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic factors. Falls increase a person’s fear of falling, reducing physical activity, which then causes muscle weakness and further decreased physical activity; this cycle can cause multiple falls. Further research is necessary to clarify the relationships between falls and sarcopenia, cachexia, and PEW. Routine clinical assessments of nutrition-related problems are crucial to prevent falls in HD patients.

Cachexia, in the form of unintentional weight loss >5% in 12 months or less, and secondary sarcopenia in the form of muscle wasting are serious conditions that affect clinical outcomes. A chronic disease state such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) often contributes to these wasting disorders. The purpose of this review is to summarize the prevalence of cachexia and sarcopenia, their relationship with kidney function, and indicators for evaluating kidney function in patients with CKD. It is estimated that approximately half of all persons with CKD will develop cachexia with an estimated annual mortality rate of 20%, but few studies have been conducted on cachexia in CKD. Hence, the true prevalence of cachexia in CKD and its effects on kidney function and patient outcomes remain unclear. Some studies have highlighted the concept of protein‐energy wasting (PEW) which usually include sarcopenia and cachexia. Several studies have examined kidney function and CKD progression in patients with sarcopenia. Most studies use serum creatinine levels to estimate kidney function. However, creatinine may be influenced by muscle mass, and creatinine‐based glomerular filtration rate may overestimate kidney function in patients with reduced muscle mass or muscle wasting. Cystatin C, which is least affected by muscle mass, has been used in some studies, and creatinine‐to‐cystatin‐C ratio has emerged as an important prognostic marker. A previous study incorporating 428 320 participants reported that participants with CKD and sarcopenia had a 33% higher hazard of mortality compared with those without (7% to 66%, P = 0.011), and that those with sarcopenia were twice as likely to develop end‐stage kidney disease (hazard ratio: 1.98; 1.45 to 2.70, P < 0.001). Future studies on cachexia and sarcopenia in patients with CKD are needed to report rigorously defined cachexia concerning kidney function. Moreover, in studies on sarcopenia with CKD, it is desirable to accumulate studies using cystatin C to accurately estimate kidney function.

Background and objective The phase angle (PhA) obtained using bioelectrical impedance analysis is a highly reliable indicator that reflects the quality of skeletal muscle, as it is calculated directly from reactance and resistance when an electric current is applied and does not use an estimation formula. Although PhA is a useful indicator of nutritional status and prognosis, its relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults from the general population has not been fully investigated. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between HRQoL and PhA in community-dwelling older adults to determine whether PhA is a useful indicator of decreased HRQoL. Methods The study included 162 older adults (114 women; average age: 77.8 ± 5.5 years) who were independent in their daily activities and did not have serious musculoskeletal or internal disorders. The EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) was used to evaluate HRQoL, and PhA was measured using a body composition analyzer (MC-780A-N; TANITA Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), with the left and right values averaged. In addition, we evaluated sex, BMI, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), skeletal muscle index, and physical function (grip strength, walking speed, knee extension strength, and five-times sit-to-stand test). We examined the relationship between PhA and each evaluation item using Spearman's rank correlation test, with HRQoL as the objective variable, using multiple regression analysis. Results The Spearman rank correlation test showed a significant correlation between HRQoL and PhA (ρ=0.2550), as well as with ASM, grip strength, and knee extension strength (ρ=0.1580, 0.1610, and 0.1670, respectively). In the multiple regression analysis, PhA was a significant independent factor explaining HRQoL (t=2.8097, p=0.0056); however, no association was found with the other evaluation items. Conclusions Based on our findings, PhA is an independent factor associated with HRQoL in community-dwelling older adults. Hence, PhA may be a useful indicator of the risk of decreased HRQoL. Compared with other physical function and muscle strength indicators, PhA may serve as a more useful complementary evaluation tool in maintaining health and improving HRQoL in older adults.

Purpose Cachexia is a condition in which protein and energy are progressively wasted in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to poor long-term prognosis and a decline in health-related quality of life (QOL). However, the relationship between cachexia and health-related QOL remains unclear in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to determine the relationship between cachexia and health-related QOL in outpatients with CKD who were undergoing hemodialysis. Methods This cross-sectional study included outpatients with CKD who were undergoing hemodialysis. Cachexia was defined on the basis of the criteria of the Cachexia Consensus Conference, which include a minimum of 5% weight loss in 12 months or less (or a body mass index [BMI] less than 20 kg/m 2 ) plus three or more of the following five diagnostic criteria: decreased muscle strength, fatigue, anorexia, low fat-free mass index, and abnormal biochemistry. The main outcome was health-related QOL, which was measured by the EuroQOL 5 dimensions 5-level. Multivariate analyses were conducted to clarify the associations between cachexia, the five diagnostic criteria items of cachexia, and health-related QOL. Results This study included 93 patients [age 69.4 (11.0) years; women: 49.5%]. Multivariate analysis showed that cachexia was inversely associated with health-related QOL ( β  = −0.117, P  = 0.003). Among the five diagnostic criteria items of cachexia, only fatigue was inversely associated with health-related QOL ( β  = −0.068, P  = 0.029). Conclusions Cachexia, particularly fatigue, was inversely associated with health-related QOL in patients with CKD who were undergoing hemodialysis.

Frailty is a significant health problem that results in adverse outcomes, reduced quality of life, and increased medical and nursing care costs. This study aimed to review the effect of digital health interventions on improving physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty. Randomized controlled trials of digital health interventions reporting frailty-related outcomes on physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty were collected. The literature was reviewed, and the risk of bias was assessed. Meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. The review included a total of 63 records. The meta-analysis showed that digital health interventions positively affected the volume of physical activity, daily steps, walking test, walking speed, VO2peak, dynamic gait index, timed up and go test, and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Social Functioning. However, no significant effect on the time of physical activity was found. Despite the absence of fatal bias, the overall certainty of the evidence was not high because of the small number of studies and participants included in the analysis. Digital health interventions can improve physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty. However, the evidence had limited certainty, and the evidence supporting the effect of digital health intervention is insufficient. Thus, more studies are needed to clarify the effects of these interventions.

Background Since the concept of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) was proposed, numerous studies have assessed patients and their family members. However, a wide range of assessment timings has been employed across previous studies. This study aimed to clarify how assessment timings have been implemented in existing PICS research through a scoping review, and to explore expert opinions on optimal assessment timing via an online survey. Methods We conducted a scoping review of studies assessing PICS-related outcomes, including physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments, as well as PICS in family members. Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL, and screened by two independent pairs of reviewers. Eligible studies were published between January 2014 and December 2022. Studies lacking a clear description of assessment timing were excluded. We analyzed the reference point used to determine assessment schedules, the assessment time points, and their frequency. Additionally, an online questionnaire was administered to 23 members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine PICS committee and working group members to collect expert opinions on these three aspects for clinical research. Results A total of 657 studies were included. In prior studies, hospital discharge was the most commonly used reference point for determining assessment schedule (240 studies, 40%). However, ICU discharge was identified by experts as the ideal reference point (16 votes, 47%). The most frequently used assessment time points were 3 months (262, 23%), 6 months (212, 19%), and 12 months (206, 18%) post-discharge. Experts most commonly selected the period between 6 and 12 months as the optimal time point for assessment. While single assessments were most common in previous studies (337, 51%), experts considered three assessments to be ideal (12, 44%). Conclusions This study revealed notable discrepancies between the assessment timing reported in previous studies and the opinions of experts regarding optimal timing. Standardization of assessment timing in PICS research is warranted to enhance methodological consistency and comparability.

The effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in patients with heart failure (HF) remain controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the efficacy of HIIT versus moderate-intensity continuous aerobic training (MCT) on exercise tolerance in patients with HF. We searched for studies published up to 4 March 2022 in Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library with no limitations on data, language, or publication status. We included randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of HIIT and MCT on peak oxygen uptake (VO2), as a measure of exercise tolerance. We pooled the data on peak VO2, compared HIIT to MCT, and conducted a sub-analysis if there was heterogeneity in the result. We identified 15 randomized controlled trials with 557 patients. Our meta-analysis showed that participants who underwent HIIT achieved a significantly higher peak VO2 than those who underwent MCT (mean difference 1.46 ml/kg/min, 95% confidence interval 0.39 to 2.53; participants = 557; studies = 15; I2 = 65.7%; very low-quality evidence). The meta-regression analysis, conducted as a sub-analysis to explore possible causes of heterogeneity, revealed that the difference in peak VO2 between HIIT and MCT was inversely associated with body mass index (r =  − 0.508, p = 0.028, 95% confidence interval − 0.95 to − 0.07). Our systematic review showed that HIIT achieved a higher peak VO2 than MCT in patients with HF. In addition, HIIT may be more effective in improving exercise tolerance in patients with low body mass index.

Rehabilitation nutrition is a proposed intervention strategy to improve nutritional status and physical function. However, rehabilitation nutrition in patients with cachexia and protein-energy wasting (PEW), which are the main nutrition-related problems in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), has not been fully clarified. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the current evidence and interventions related to rehabilitation nutrition for cachexia and PEW in patients with CKD. CKD is a serious condition worldwide, with a significant impact on patient prognosis. In addition, CKD is easily complicated by nutrition-related problems such as cachexia and PEW owing to disease background- and treatment-related factors, which can further worsen the prognosis. Although nutritional management and exercise therapy are reportedly effective for cachexia and PEW, the effectiveness of combined nutrition and exercise interventions is less clear. In the future, rehabilitation nutrition addressing the nutritional problems associated with CKD will become more widespread as more scientific evidence accumulates. In clinical practice, early intervention in patients with CKD involving both nutrition and exercise after appropriate assessment may be necessary to improve patient outcomes.

Background The assessment of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is challenging due to the numerous types of instruments. We herein attempted to identify and propose recommendations for instruments to assess PICS in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. Methods We conducted a scoping review to identify PICS follow-up studies at and after hospital discharge between 2014 and 2022. Assessment instruments used more than two times were included in the modified Delphi consensus process. A modified Delphi meeting was conducted three times by the PICS committee of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine, and each score was rated as not important (score: 1–3), important, but not critical (4–6), and critical (7–9). We included instruments with ≥ 70% of respondents rating critical and ≤ 15% of respondents rating not important. Results In total, 6972 records were identified in this scoping review, and 754 studies were included in the analysis. After data extraction, 107 PICS assessment instruments were identified. The modified Delphi meeting reached 20 PICS assessment instrument recommendations: (1) in the physical domain: the 6-min walk test, MRC score, and grip strength, (2) in cognition: MoCA, MMSE, and SMQ, (3) in mental health: HADS, IES-R, and PHQ-9, (4) in the activities of daily living: the Barthel Index, IADL, and FIM, (5) in quality of life: SF-36, SF-12, EQ-5D-5L, 3L, and VAS (6), in sleep and pain: PSQI and Brief Pain Inventory, respectively, and (7) in the PICS-family domain: SF-36, HADS, and IES-R. Conclusion Based on a scoping review and the modified Delphi method, 20 PICS assessment instruments are recommended to assess physical, cognitive, mental health, activities of daily living, quality of life, sleep, and pain in ICU survivors and their families.

Peer support, which is given by people with similar life experiences and experiential knowledge, has been shown to be effective for patients with diabetes and mental illness. However, the impact of such peer support on patients coping with heart failure remains indeterminate. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to scrutinize the potential benefits of peer support for patients with heart failure. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of peer support for patients with heart failure in contrast to those without peer support. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov until October 2022. We pooled the data on mortality, readmission rate, and quality of life (QoL) as primary outcomes. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach. We included three studies with 390 patients with heart failure. Peer support may have resulted in a slight increase in mortality (risk ratio (RR)=1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.61-2.21; low certainty of the evidence) and in a reduction in the readmission rate (RR=0.93, 95% CI=0.74-1.17; low certainty of the evidence). The evidence was very uncertain about the effect of peer support on QoL (standardized mean difference 2.03 higher in the intervention group, 95% CI=1.79 lower to 5.84 higher; very low certainty of the evidence). Despite that the certainty is low or very low, the extant data available evidence suggests that peer support may not yield substantial improvements in critical outcomes for patients with heart failure. Consequently, endorsing peer support for patients with heart failure currently seems unjustifiable.Peer support, which is given by people with similar life experiences and experiential knowledge, has been shown to be effective for patients with diabetes and mental illness. However, the impact of such peer support on patients coping with heart failure remains indeterminate. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to scrutinize the potential benefits of peer support for patients with heart failure. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of peer support for patients with heart failure in contrast to those without peer support. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov until October 2022. We pooled the data on mortality, readmission rate, and quality of life (QoL) as primary outcomes. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach. We included three studies with 390 patients with heart failure. Peer support may have resulted in a slight increase in mortality (risk ratio (RR)=1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.61-2.21; low certainty of the evidence) and in a reduction in the readmission rate (RR=0.93, 95% CI=0.74-1.17; low certainty of the evidence). The evidence was very uncertain about the effect of peer support on QoL (standardized mean difference 2.03 higher in the intervention group, 95% CI=1.79 lower to 5.84 higher; very low certainty of the evidence). Despite that the certainty is low or very low, the extant data available evidence suggests that peer support may not yield substantial improvements in critical outcomes for patients with heart failure. Consequently, endorsing peer support for patients with heart failure currently seems unjustifiable.